Chinese researchers develop new AI assistant for plant science
Chinese scientists have unveiled PlantGPT, the first large language model-based artificial intelligence designed specifically for plant functional gen...
The lush river valleys of El Zaino y La Arenosa in western Panama, home to hundreds of families that eke out a living farming, fishing and raising cattle, could soon be submerged by a massive man-made reservoir designed to ensure the viability of the Panama Canal in the face of a changing climate.
The lush river valleys of El Zaino y La Arenosa in western Panama, home to hundreds of families that eke out a living farming, fishing and raising cattle, could soon be submerged by a massive man-made reservoir designed to ensure the viability of the Panama Canal in the face of a changing climate.
Tres Hermanas, with its farms, two schools, churches and a medical clinic, is one of dozens of towns that would disappear in the next six years if the state-owned Panama Canal's ambitious $1.6 billion project goes ahead.
While the Rio Indio dam project was first proposed two decades ago, more extreme weather in the last decade, including a severe drought in the past year that restricted vessel traffic on the canal, has lent greater urgency to the proposal.
The canal accounts for 3.1% of the Central American country's gross domestic product. The waterway, which allows up to 14,000 ships to cross per year, accounts for 2.5% of global seaborne trade and is critical to U.S. imports of autos and commercial goods by container ships from Asia, and for U.S exports of commodities, including liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Residents are divided: some do not want to leave, while others are focused on getting fair compensation if they are forced to move. If they are not satisfied, recent history suggests public opposition could endanger the entire project.
The project still needs to pass a long approval process including a public consultation, discussion by the cabinet and the National Assembly's final green light.
The Canal Authority aims to create a massive dam 840 meters in length and 80.5 meters in height to secure freshwater for its locks. It says the reservoir's 1.25 billion cubic meters of water would allow up to 15 additional vessel transits per day during the dry season, and help provide drinking water to Panama's growing 4.5 million population.
If it wins approval, the dam is expected to be completed by 2030 or 2031, but the clock is ticking: Last year was the third driest in the waterway's 110-year history. The second driest was 2015. Meteorologists forecast Panama will face more severe droughts and faster water evaporation due to higher temperatures in the future.
According to an initial survey by the Canal, the project would demand the relocation of some 2,260 people, and would impact at least partially an additional 2,000 people in the reservoir zone.
A census to count more accurately how many people will be affected is expected to be completed in January, the canal's deputy administrator, Ilya Espino de Marotta, told Reuters in an interview in October.
From an environmental damage point of view, the Rio Indio project could have a greater negative impact and few positive benefits that could not be obtained otherwise, said Professor LeRoy Poff, an expert on aquatic ecology from the University of Colorado, referring to displacement of people and livelihoods, damages downstream for the fish and for the forests.
The recurrence of the El Niño weather phenomenon has accelerated to every three years, extending Panama's dry season and exhausting much of the water resources in the country with the fifth most rainfall in the world.
In preparation for the next drought, the Canal has changed its reservation model, is calling on shippers to consolidate cargoes and is preparing water recycling measures.
The U.S. economy faces a 40% risk of recession in the second half of 2025, JP Morgan analysts said on Wednesday, citing rising tariffs and stagflation concerns.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
The European Commission is set to propose allowing carbon credits from other countries to count towards the EU’s 2040 climate target, according to a leaked internal document.
China has ramped up efforts to protect communities impacted by flood control measures, introducing stronger compensation policies and direct aid from the central government.
The European Commission has put forward a proposal allowing carbon credits purchased from developing countries to be counted towards the EU’s 2040 climate target for the first time. The move, announced on Wednesday, has drawn criticism from campaigners and some scientists.
The European Commission has proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law aimed at reducing net greenhouse gas emissions 90% by 2040, compared with 1990 levels.
Global temperatures in 2024 exceeded the crucial 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels for the first time, marking a serious warning for the world’s climate goals under the Paris Agreement, scientists said.
Wildfires and a severe heatwave sweeping across Europe have claimed the lives of two people in Spain and another two in France, while also causing the shutdown of a nuclear reactor in Switzerland.
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have established a joint venture to implement the Green Energy Corridor: Azerbaijan–Central Asia project aimed at building infrastructure for clean energy transmission and strengthening a regional energy cooperation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment