Scientists Discover Hidden Ancient Forest on Treeless Island

CNN,

Scientists have uncovered evidence of an ancient temperate rainforest on the Falkland Islands, long believed to be devoid of trees. Dr. Zoë Thomas, a physical geography lecturer at the University of Southampton, made the discovery in 2020 when tree trunks were unearthed beneath layers of peat near the capital, Stanley. The Falkland Islands, known for their windswept and barren landscape, have not seen trees for tens of thousands of years, making this discovery extraordinary.

The region is primarily covered by low-lying shrubs and vegetation, but the discovery of these ancient trees provides new insights into the island’s ecological history. The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory that became the center of a brief war between Britain and Argentina in 1982. Though Britain emerged victorious, Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands.

US Changes Tack on Haiti Peacekeeping Push Amid China, Russia Opposition

Reuters,

The United States has dropped its push for the U.N. Security Council to transform the security mission in Haiti into a formal U.N. peacekeeping operation, reportedly to appease Russia and China. Instead, the U.S. now supports the call by Haiti’s transition council head, Edgard Leblanc, to maintain the current Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission.

This shift comes as the U.N. Security Council prepares to vote on a draft resolution that extends the MSS mission until October 2025. The initial push to transition the mission to a peacekeeping operation was met with opposition from Russia and China, leading the U.S. to adjust its strategy. A senior U.S. official, speaking anonymously, denied that the decision was influenced by external pressures, claiming it aligns with Washington’s broader goals for Haiti.

Warships from Five Nations Conduct Joint South China Sea Patrol

Royal Australian Navy,

In a show of multilateral cooperation, warships from the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Japan conducted joint patrols in the contested South China Sea. The patrol, which is the fourth such activity this year, included drills in maritime domain awareness, replenishment at sea, and contact reporting.

The joint force featured naval vessels such as the Philippines’ BRP Antonio Luna, Australia’s HMAS Sydney, and Japan’s JS Sazanami, among others. Naval aviation units also participated, with helicopters and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft joining the exercises. The patrol took place near the Philippine exclusive economic zone off Luzon, emphasizing the region’s strategic importance.

SpaceX Pauses Launches to Study Falcon 9 Issue on Crew-9 Mission

Space.com,

SpaceX has temporarily grounded its Falcon 9 rocket following an issue that occurred during the recent Crew-9 astronaut launch. The mission, which lifted off on September 28, 2024, from Cape Canaveral, sent NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov to the International Space Station aboard the Crew Dragon capsule “Freedom.”

While the initial stages of the mission appeared to proceed smoothly— with the Falcon 9’s first stage successfully landing and the capsule being placed into orbit—SpaceX is now investigating a potential issue with the rocket. The Falcon 9 has been grounded as the company works to understand the root cause of the problem before resuming further launches.

China’s Factory, Service Sectors Skid, Stimulus Urged

Reuters,

China’s factory activity shrank for the fifth consecutive month in September, and the services sector slowed sharply, signaling the need for more stimulus to meet Beijing’s growth targets. The National Bureau of Statistics reported a Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of 49.8, up from 49.1 in August but still below the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction.

Economists have called for more aggressive stimulus measures to tackle persistent economic challenges, including slow consumer activity and weak service PMIs. Last week, Chinese authorities introduced a stimulus package that led to the best stock market performance in 16 years, but analysts are skeptical about whether it will be enough to reignite growth in the final quarter of 2024.

Austria’s Far-Right Freedom Party Wins Election

Al Jazeera,

Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (FPO) achieved a historic victory in the country’s national elections, securing 28.8% of the vote and overtaking the ruling conservative People’s Party (OVP). While the FPO has served in coalition governments before, this is the first time the party has won a national election.

Led by Herbert Kickl, a provocative figure in Austrian politics, the FPO faces an uphill battle in forming a governing coalition, as many other parties have refused to work with the far-right party. Despite these challenges, Kickl celebrated the result, calling it a victory for Austria’s political future and vowing to lead the country into a new era.