Thousands of Austrians have protested against the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which has been leading in polls for over a year. With upcoming European and parliamentary elections, the country faces potential political turmoil. The protestors include a diverse group, notably featuring grandmas against the far-right.

Thousands of Austrians have demonstrated against the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which has been leading in polls for over a year. As the European and parliamentary elections approach, concerns about political instability grow. The protestors include a diverse group, notably featuring grandmas against the far-right, united in opposition to the right-wing political trend.

Thousands of Austrians have demonstrated against the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which has been leading in polls for over a year. As European and parliamentary elections approach, concerns about political instability grow. A diverse group, including grandmas, has united to oppose the right-wing surge.

The State Forestry Directorate and the East Tyrol District Forestry Inspectorate are using drones to combat the bark beetle in Tyrol's forests, with potential applications for neighbouring countries if successful.

In Austria, farmers like Herbert Zetner are engaging in 'carbon farming' to increase CO2 storage in soil, which is then verified and sold as CO2 certificates to companies aiming for net-zero emissions. Despite adding to his workload without full compensation, Zetner's methods are gaining interest among other farmers. However, environmental organizations, including Global 2000, criticize the practice as greenwashing, suggesting that re-watering peat swamps is a more effective carbon storage method.

The warmest autumn on record has led to the latest ever opening of high-altitude ski resorts in Austria and Switzerland, including Austria's Stubai glacier. This delay impacts the tourism sector, which is crucial for the region's economy, particularly in Austria where it contributes about five percent of GDP. Climate experts predict that in the future, skiing may only be feasible on elevated glacier resorts. Some resorts are adapting by focusing on summer tourism, offering activities like hiking and mountain biking, but this does not fully compensate for the loss in winter revenue.

Iceland's authorities are implementing measures to mitigate the impact of a potential volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Protective walls are being constructed to shield the Reykjanes Power Plant, the area's sole energy source. The Justice Minister highlighted the lack of alternative energy infrastructure. Iceland's strict construction code has proven effective against seismic damage, as demonstrated when Grindavik withstood an earthquake without building collapses. The MET Office is tasked with providing at least 30 minutes' notice to evacuate in case of an eruption. Additionally, water cooling of rising magma is being considered as a preventative measure.

Austria is considering a plan to secure future gas supplies by bypassing Ukraine's scheduled end to Russian gas transits. The Austrian energy regulator, E-Control, suggests that gas can still flow through the Ukrainian pipeline with different contractual partners, despite the end of the supply contract with Naftogaz. Naftogaz has stated it does not intend to extend the contract from 2025 and criticizes the support of Russia through gas purchases during the war. The EU has criticized Austria for its energy dependence on Moscow. Austria aims to import gas from the West in the future, but necessary pipeline construction to Germany is delayed until 2027, potentially prolonging Austria's reliance on Russia and Ukraine.

Inflation in Austria is causing public unrest, with the country experiencing one of the highest inflation rates in the Eurozone. Consumers, such as those at Vienna's Naschmarkt, are feeling the impact of rising costs. The Austrian Institute of Economic Research criticizes the government's current measures and suggests utilizing public infrastructure to reduce energy prices. While food prices are expected to ease soon, sectors requiring significant labor, like the restaurant industry, will continue to see price increases.

Following the introduction of border checks by Poland, Czechia, and Austria with Slovakia, the Slovak government announced regular checks on its border with Hungary starting Thursday. This response comes amid a 900 percent increase in migrant arrivals from crisis areas like Syria, as reported by Slovakia's interior ministry. The migrants typically travel through the Balkan route via Serbia and Hungary. Germany also initiated random checks at its borders with Poland and Czechia, citing Russia and Belarus's alleged role in the migration surge. The border checks, which include document and vehicle inspections, are expected to last at least 10 days and have raised concerns about the impact on daily commuters.

The IPPNW has warned that the conflict near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant could lead to a nuclear disaster affecting eastern Europe and global hunger. Russian troops control the plant, and both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of shelling near it. A missile strike could spread nuclear contamination, with caesium-137 posing significant health risks. The IPPNW urges action from Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons treaty members and criticizes the lack of a Security Council statement on the plant's military targeting. The potential global impact on food security is highlighted, especially concerning grain exports from Ukraine to Africa.

Global drug consumption has risen by 23% over the past decade, with 296 million people using drugs in 2021, according to the UNODC World Drug Report. Cannabis is the most common substance, followed by opioids, amphetamines, cocaine, and ecstasy. Drug-related disorders have surged by 45%, with 39.5 million cases reported, and only one in five individuals receiving treatment. However, the pandemic has spurred innovative methods to reach drug users, increasing the number of people receiving treatment, which Angela Me of the UNODC views as a sign of hope.

Saudi Arabia has committed to a significant reduction in oil production for July, with a planned cut from around 10 million barrels per day to 9 million. This move is part of a broader OPEC+ agreement to limit supply into 2024. The decision, which took seven hours of talks to reach, is a response to weaker than expected demand projections into 2023. OPEC+, including Russia, controls about 40% of global crude output, and their policies significantly influence oil prices. The effectiveness of the cuts in raising prices remains uncertain, as previous reductions had minimal impact.

Austria is experiencing a significant drought due to a lack of rainfall, causing groundwater levels to drop across half the country. Lake Zicksee in eastern Austria has completely dried up, leading locals to search for coins and valuables on the lakebed among fish skeletons. The usual snowfall in the Alps is lower, with western Austria receiving one-third less precipitation and Italy only half the norm. This poses serious consequences for much of Europe. Klaus Haslinger, a climatologist at GeoSphere Austria, explains that less snowmelt will lead to critically low river levels in the coming weeks and months. The Austrian government is responding by investing in drinking water infrastructure, such as drilling deeper wells.

Wolves are causing fear among residents of border regions in Austria and Slovenia, with a significant increase in livestock deaths attributed to wolves in Carinthia. Slovenian farmer Matija Juvan received only partial government compensation for his sheep killed by wolves due to lost identification tags. The Slovenian government requires proof of wolf attacks for compensation. Hunters use carcasses to trap wolves, as partial culling is allowed in Slovenia and Austria, targeting mainly wolf-dog hybrids. The World Wildlife Fund argues that wolves protect forests from deer overpopulation, saving the forestry industry millions of euros. Meanwhile, Juvan contemplates abandoning sheep farming due to the stress of wolf attacks.

Livestock attacks by wolves are increasing in Europe, prompting discussions on revising their protection status. In Austria, sheep attacks by wolves rose by 230%. The Austrian Agriculture Minister, supported by counterparts from several countries, called for a protection status review, citing biodiversity threats. In November 2022, the European Parliament voted for a resolution to mitigate wolf protection status. However, environmental organizations and some EU Environment Ministers oppose weakening legal protections, highlighting wolves' role in ecosystem balance. They request faster, larger compensations for affected livestock farmers and maintain the importance of protecting rare species.

The UN has expressed concern that the pandemic may have obscured the true extent of human trafficking, as registered cases fell significantly during the health crisis. Experts believe that crimes such as trafficking, prostitution, and forced labor may be moving further underground. In 2020, there was an 11% drop in detected human trafficking cases worldwide, with variations between regions. East Asia and North Africa saw cases halved, while Europe and North America experienced increases due to more investigators and resources. The UN fears that this decline in detected cases, the first in 20 years, may become the new normal, making the crime harder to uncover. Traffickers reportedly used the pandemic to grow their criminal networks undetected, prompting calls for new approaches to effectively combat human trafficking.

Austria's ski season has commenced with a 10 percent increase in ski ticket prices, a response to the country's record 11 percent inflation. Zauchensee, the most expensive resort near Salzburg, has implemented several cost-cutting measures, including no heating for chairlifts or terraces and running lifts at a slower speed. Resort manager Veronika Scheffer cites a fivefold increase in energy prices and doubling of diesel prices as reasons for the changes. The government offers up to $26 million in subsidies for resorts that save energy, but it's uncertain if the high costs will deter skiers.

The IAEA has introduced new surveillance devices, including a 'Cerenkov' robot and modernized container seals, to enhance the monitoring of nuclear plants globally. The robot aims to confirm the amount of spent nuclear fuel and ensure it hasn't been diverted, while the seals verify if container material has been tampered with. The IAEA's largest monitoring operation is in Iran, where surveillance footage has been withheld since the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear treaty. The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization recently met with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi to discuss safeguard issues. Currently, only 200 of the 1,334 nuclear facilities worldwide are remotely monitored, and the IAEA is looking to increase this number.

Over 32,000 demonstrators protested in Austrian cities against the high cost of living, demanding higher salaries and bigger pensions. Workers unions organized the protests, highlighting the struggle to afford basic necessities due to high gas and electricity prices. The Austrian government has implemented aid measures, including a $500 payment to citizens, but critics argue these are insufficient. Marcus Scheiblecker from the Austrian Institute of Economic Research suggests more targeted measures are needed. With inflation at a 50-year high and the threat of recession looming in the EU, further protests are anticipated if the situation worsens.