Thick smog grips Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, creating a hazardous environment for residents. The city is currently facing one of Europe’s worst pollution crises, with many struggling to breathe.
According to IQAir, which tracks global air quality, Sarajevo has ranked as Europe’s most polluted city, surpassing even New Delhi in pollution levels. The city's air quality has reached hazardous levels, causing significant health concerns.
Local residents reported difficulty breathing, with many worried about vulnerable family members. "After getting out into this kind of air, it is impossible to avoid feeling a tightness in your nose, throat, and lungs. You do not have to be an expert to recognise its negative impact on health," said Sarajevo resident Suncica Kovacevic.
Air quality expert Muris Spahic emphasized that long-term improvements are essential and can only be achieved by reducing fossil fuel use and easing traffic congestion. “The citizens of Sarajevo breathe this polluted air. The issue in Sarajevo can only be resolved by phasing out fossil fuels and alleviating traffic congestion, as the existing road infrastructure is inadequate to support the volume of vehicles circulating in the city,” Spahic said.
Despite previous promises to ban older cars and suspend outdoor activities during poor air quality, these measures have yet to be implemented by the local government. As the pollution crisis intensifies, public health concerns continue to grow in Sarajevo, with residents calling for urgent action.
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Voters in Bosnia’s Serb Republic cast ballots for a new president in a snap election on Sunday (23 November), called after former leader Milorad Dodik was removed and barred from politics.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday, marking the start of a multi-day diplomatic tour across all six Western Balkan states focused on accelerating their long-stalled European Union accession process.
Prosecutors in Milan have opened an investigation into allegations that Italian nationals paid Bosnian Serb soldiers for trips to the hills around Sarajevo in the 1990s so they could shoot civilians during the city’s four-year siege.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has taken a major step toward EU integration by signing a deal with the European Union to strengthen border control and combat illegal migration.
A group of Azerbaijani civil society organisations has called for increased scrutiny of Swiss building materials giant Holcim, citing court rulings and ongoing investigations linked to its subsidiary Lafarge's activities during the Syrian conflict.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says ongoing conflict, funding pressures and international travel restrictions are complicating efforts to contain a fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia and Kazakhstan signed 15 agreements during President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Astana on Thursday (28 May), including deals on Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant and expanded oil cooperation with Russia.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged Asian allies to increase military spending, warning of growing concern over China’s rapid military expansion and wider activities in the region.
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Three Latvian climbers have died after falling on Mount McKinley in Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, authorities and a Latvian climbing organisation have said
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 30 May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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