A massive landslide near Blatten, Switzerland, highlights the growing global threat of glacier collapse due to climate change. Scientists link the disaster to melting permafrost destabilizing the Birch Glacier, leading to rapid ice movement and debris fall. The village was evacuated just before the collapse. Experts warn such events—from Alaska to Tibet—are accelerating, putting thousands at risk and reducing essential freshwater sources. Even if warming halts now, 40% of glaciers are still projected to vanish. The Alps alone have lost half their glacier mass since 1950, signalling irreversible environmental damage already underway across continents.
NORTH KOREA ARMS RUSSIA HEAVILY
A new report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team reveals North Korea’s extensive military support to Russia during its war in Ukraine. The report outlines Pyongyang’s supply of 14,000 troops, 100 ballistic missiles, and over 9 million rounds of ammunition. In return, Russia provided North Korea with air defense systems, refined oil, and missile data. This military partnership violates UN arms embargoes and enhances North Korea’s banned weapons programs. Western nations express growing concern over this alliance, especially as North Korea gains experience in modern warfare. Both countries continue to deny these transfers despite substantial evidence and mounting global pressure.
CHINA LAUNCHES GLOBAL MEDIATION BODY
China has launched the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) in Hong Kong, aiming to strengthen its influence in global governance. Signed by 31 countries, including Pakistan and Serbia, the initiative intends to restore faith in Hong Kong’s legal system post the 2020 national security law. The IOMed will handle disputes between states, individuals, and international entities, positioning Hong Kong alongside institutions like the ICJ and the Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the move as a step toward amicable conflict resolution. Critics, however, view it as a strategic move to increase Beijing’s global sway.
SLOVAK PM WARNS EU’S COLLAPSE
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has declared that the European Union risks collapse due to its imposition of binding political opinions, removal of veto powers, and punitive stance toward dissenting nations. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Budapest, Fico criticized Brussels’ handling of the Ukraine crisis and warned of an emerging “new Iron Curtain.” He accused German Chancellor Friedrich Merz of threatening Hungary and Slovakia with sanctions for their independent foreign policies. Fico labeled these developments as a departure from democracy and a potential trigger for large-scale military conflict, highlighting deepening internal divisions within the EU bloc.
CHINESE STUDENTS FACE VISA BANS
Chinese students in the US are facing anxiety and disruption as the Trump administration intensifies visa restrictions. Students like Kiwi Zhang have been detained, deported, and banned for alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party—claims many deny. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement to “aggressively revoke” student visas in critical fields has triggered panic, with students fearing deportation or entry bans. Harvard was briefly barred from enrolling international students, and appointments for student visas have halted globally. As trust erodes, many students are exploring alternatives in Europe and Asia, while families question the viability of the American education dream.
