Kosovo is mine-free, Germany quits fossil fuels, and new cat species discovered
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After 27 years, Kosovo is free of landmines thanks to work by The Halo Trust, allowing for economic recovery and bringing the country’s average life expectancy close to that of the United States.
The charity completed its work clearing explosive remnants from the Kosovo War, which displaced over 800,000 people and injured 150 in the first month after the conflict ended.
Now, cleared land supports agriculture and infrastructure projects, and Halo Trust workers from Kosovo are assisting with mine clearance in Syria and Ukraine. A recent review found that the global goal of protecting 30% of the planet by 2030 is achievable, with around 20% of land and inland waters already designated as protected areas. Existing commitments could increase this to 27% by 2030, but progress at sea lags behind, currently at only 10% protected.
The newly ratified High Seas Treaty reached 100 ratifying nations this week, establishing a legal framework to conserve life in waters beyond national boundaries. Doctors in England are preparing to roll out a new test developed by the University of Manchester that could reduce the number of invasive procedures for diagnosing womb cancer. The test, which analyzes cells from urine and vaginal fluid, accurately ruled out cancer in 98.8% of 1,864 women tested, and identified over 80% of cancers.
A new cat species was also identified in the Yungas cloud forest in Bolivia, marking the first discovery of a new cat species in over a century.
