Elections last weekend in Ecuador and Poland are leading to changes in leadership in both countries. In Ecuador, Daniel Noboa was elected president. In Poland, opposition parties seem to have a better path to creating a coalition government than the ruling party.
Published in “South America”
Over the weekend, people around the world turned out in huge numbers to protest the burning of fossil fuels. The protests - the largest since before the coronavirus pandemic - were meant to send a strong message to political leaders: "Take climate action now."
Torbjorn ("Thor") Pedersen is a Danish traveler who recently finished a trip around the world. But this wasn't just any trip. Mr. Pedersen spent nearly 10 years visiting every country in the world – and he did it all without flying.
On August 21, a cargo ship traveling from Singapore to Brazil became the first to try out a new kind of sail. The sail is expected to save fuel and cut pollution. If it works well, similar sails could become common on cargo ships over the next few years.
A recent report from a United Nations group warns that using technology in classes may not help as much as many people believe. The report suggests that technology should be used less in schools, and that smartphones should be banned from classrooms.
On Sunday, Ecuador held a special vote on whether oil drilling should be allowed in Yasuni National Park. The vote was part of a larger election to choose the country's next president. Nearly 60% of Ecuadorian voters chose to protect the park.
For the last two weeks, 32 women's soccer teams have been playing in stadiums across Australia and New Zealand as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Along the way, there have been some amazing matches, along with several surprises. Now there are only eight teams left.
Four children have survived alone in Colombia's Amazon rainforest for 40 days. On May 1, their small airplane crashed. Somehow, the children managed to survive for over a month in the jungle before being rescued. The news that they're safe has brought joy to the entire country.
On Friday, the World Health Organization announced that the coronavirus pandemic is not a global emergency anymore. The disease is now spreading much more slowly than before. The WHO says Covid-19 is still a problem, but the hardest part of the pandemic is over.
Scientists exploring the ocean around the Galapagos Islands have discovered a healthy, active coral reef, deep below the surface of the sea. The reef is unusual because it is so healthy, and has not been damaged by humans.
Liam Garner was just 17 years old when he started out on his big adventure - a 20,000 mile (32,000 kilometer) bike trip from Alaska to Argentina. In early January, he finally finished his trip, 17 months after he started.