The NSW Snowy Mountains ski season is experiencing a slow start due to a lack of snow. Resorts like Perisher and Thredbo have recorded minimal snowfall, leading to delayed openings and impacting seasonal workers. While El Niño conditions suggest warmer temperatures, locals remain hopeful for upcoming snow.
A preliminary NTSB report indicates GPS malfunction due to military jamming contributed to a fatal medical plane crash in New Mexico on May 14. Four died, and a wildfire ignited.
A Canadian company, K2 Gold, has received approval for gold exploration at Conglomerate Mesa in California, sparking a conflict with Indigenous tribes and environmentalists who view the area as sacred and ecologically vital. The project, approved by the Bureau of Land Management, is seen by some as a new gold rush facilitated by relaxed regulations, while others highlight potential economic benefits for the small town of Lone Pine.
An audit of Australia's Snowy 2.0 renewable energy project found significant management deficiencies persist despite a 2023 reset. Issues include a lack of cost tracking, unagreed schedules, and ineffective contractor accountability, with costs now at $12 billion.
A magnitude-2.9 earthquake struck near Tumut in southern New South Wales, Australia, causing residents to report a loud boom and ground movement. While no damage was reported, concerns were raised about the proximity to Blowering Dam. Experts confirmed the seismic activity is not unusual for the region.
Thousands of Australians are descending on Vancouver for the World Cup, drawn by the city's resemblance to home and a significant expat community. From fan festivals to local businesses, Australian culture is making its mark on the Canadian city.
Reviews of new video games including James Bond's early years in 007 First Light, racing in Forza Horizon 6, puzzle-solving in Forbidden Solitaire, and more.
Bavaria offers a wide range of outdoor activities across its regions, including water sports on Chiemsee, paragliding over Neuschwanstein, hiking in Breitachklamm, mountain biking in the Bavarian Forest, sandboarding on Monte Kaolino, and rock climbing in Hirschbachtal.
An American vlogger, Tommy Beard (Sabbatical), visited China's Daliang Mountains with the intent to portray it as a "forgotten land of drug abuse." Instead, he found advanced 5G networks, improved infrastructure, and well-off villagers. Children even questioned him about the Epstein scandal, highlighting a stark contrast to Western media narratives.
Xi Jinping and Kim Jong-un pay tribute to Chinese martyrs at the Sino-Korean Friendship Tower, reaffirming the historical bond between China and North Korea.
Manu Prigioni, a Blue Mountains resident, overcame obsessive-compulsive tendencies triggered by bushfires and childbirth through gardening, facilitated by a psychologist. Research links gardening to improved mental wellbeing and life satisfaction, particularly in adults over 46.
Lichuan City, Hubei Province, is developing a new rural landscape by integrating agriculture and tourism. The Biyuntian Ecological Agriculture Sightseeing Park in Jingba Village has become a model, with its mulberry farm attracting tourists for picking and processing, creating jobs and boosting local economy.
Overseas Chinese letters ('Qiaopi') from Wenchang, Hainan, dating back to the 1950s, reveal the hardships and warmth of Hainanese emigrants in Southeast Asia. A local specialty, 'envelope biscuits,' shaped like envelopes, also symbolizes their longing for home and safe returns.
Der Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway in Colorado, die höchstgelegene asphaltierte Straße Nordamerikas, ist nach einer Saison Pause wieder geöffnet. Die Zufahrt erfordert eine Reservierung über recreation.gov und kostet 22 USD für Autos.
A popular influencer dog, Chutou, was stolen and slaughtered in central China, highlighting legal gaps in pet protection. The owner, Guo, is seeking justice after the Border Collie, with 1.5 million followers, was taken from his family's fields.
Yang Xiuyan, a Miao embroidery inheritor, leads women in rural China to revive the traditional craft, transforming it into modern art and small commodities, boosting income and preserving cultural heritage.
Student projects addressing Tuen Mun River pollution, biodegradable packaging from waste, and Cantonese language learning for mainland students were recognized at the Seek Our Ways Ideation Programme in Hong Kong.
Colombia's Mavecure Mountains, a sacred site for Indigenous groups, offer a burgeoning tourism opportunity, shifting locals from harmful gold mining to sustainable tourism practices.
Sepp Kuss achieved a historic solo victory in Stage 19 of the Giro d'Italia, while teammate Jonas Vingegaard maintained his overall lead. Kuss became the 116th rider to win stages in all three Grand Tours.
The River Wye catchment has been recognised as a living ecosystem with intrinsic rights in a UK-first charter, aiming to protect the polluted river. This initiative, part of the global 'rights of nature' movement, grants the river rights to flow, biodiversity, and freedom from pollution, with local councils adopting the charter and campaigners pushing for stronger regulation and enforcement.
The River Wye catchment has been recognized as a living ecosystem with intrinsic rights via a new UK charter. Campaigners hope this will aid in saving the polluted river, which faces ecological collapse due to nutrient runoff from industrial farming and sewage spills.
A project in China is using local wisdom and community-led initiatives to adapt to climate change. In Qinghai, it supports herders in restoring grasslands and women in developing handicrafts. In Hebei and Inner Mongolia, 'farmer seed banks' preserve local varieties, and water conservation techniques are employed for terraced fields.
Joanne Walker describes the extreme physical and mental toll of the 100-mile Ultra-Trail Australia race. Runners push past limits, seeking a 'void' and finding value in suffering, with family support crucial for completion.
A digital public welfare project, 'Smart Learning Assistance,' has transformed a rural primary school in Guizhou's mountains. Introduced by volunteer teacher Li Xue, the project provides smart blackboards, internet access, and digital resources, connecting students to urban educational opportunities and broadening their horizons.
