The Marshall Islands has launched the world's first national universal basic income scheme offering payments via cryptocurrency and traditional methods, aiming to support citizens amid rising costs. The program, funded by a US-backed trust, provides quarterly payments of about $200, with most recipients choosing bank deposits or checks, and a small number opting for digital wallets. While innovative, the scheme faces challenges related to internet connectivity and governance, and its long-term success remains uncertain.
The article discusses the devastating long-term effects of US nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands, highlighting environmental contamination, health issues, and cultural disconnection, and warns against resuming nuclear tests due to their catastrophic consequences for both local populations and global health.
Powerful waves unexpectedly surged across the low-lying island of Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands, causing significant damage to the U.S. Army Garrison Kwajalein Atoll, forcing evacuations and leaving housing, dining facilities, and the theater moderately to severely damaged. The island, vulnerable to sea-level rise, may take months to recover from the flooding, highlighting the vulnerability of low-lying areas to the effects of climate change.
Experts warn that a recent series of extreme waves causing significant damage to a U.S. military base in the Marshall Islands may signal more perilous coastal behavior in the future, potentially exacerbated by rising sea levels due to climate change. The waves inundated one-third of the island of Roi-Namor, prompting evacuations and highlighting the vulnerability of low-lying areas to powerful, destructive waves. Factors such as coastal topography, weather conditions, and tide cycles may have contributed to the strength of the waves, with recovery efforts expected to be lengthy and challenging.
A powerful wave struck an Army base in the Marshall Islands, causing significant flooding and damage to facilities, including the Outrigger Bar. The incident led to the evacuation of around 80 residents to a nearby island, with plans for a prolonged recovery effort. The Army Garrison is prioritizing runway clearance and safety assessment to facilitate the recovery process, while also providing behavioral health support to those affected.
Iran's Navy has seized a Marshall Islands-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman after it allegedly collided with an Iranian boat and attempted to flee the scene. The United States Navy confirmed the seizure of the oil tanker and is monitoring the situation.
