International

Climate disasters to cost trillions more without prevention, UN warns

Natural disasters have led to real economic losses of up to $2.3 trillion—ten times higher than previously estimated direct costs—due to their cascading impacts and the widespread damage they inflict on ecosystems, according to a United Nations report released on Tuesday.

The study warns that these costs will continue to rise as the climate crisis worsens, with developing countries bearing the brunt. Many of these nations are forced to take on additional debt to cover emergency response and post-disaster recovery expenses.

The report emphasizes that decisions made today—especially concerning land-use planning, investment strategies, and energy systems—will play a decisive role in determining future risk exposure for communities worldwide.

Among the most alarming examples is the accelerated melting of the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica. This could raise sea levels by more than half a meter, threatening coastal infrastructure valued at over $1.8 trillion.

Island nations like Kiribati and the Marshall Islands, as well as major coastal cities such as New York and Jakarta, are among those at serious risk, the report notes.

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Another consequence of more frequent and intense disasters is the rising cost of insurance premiums, shrinking coverage, and insurers pulling out of high-risk areas. In Australia, for example, more than half a million homes could become uninsurable by 2030 due to the growing flood risk.

Despite these escalating threats, the report shows that the majority of funding still goes toward emergency response. Of the $137 billion in disaster-related development assistance disbursed between 2005 and 2017, 96% went to relief, reconstruction, and recovery. Only 4%—around $5.2 billion—was invested in prevention and preparedness.

The report also highlights stark disparities: while North America incurred $69.57 billion in direct disaster losses in 2023, this only represented 0.23% of its GDP. In contrast, Micronesia’s $4.3 billion in losses amounted to a staggering 46.1% of its GDP.

“This reveals the disproportionate burden that disasters place on small and vulnerable economies,” the UN concluded.

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International

Police investigate deaths of Rob Reiner and wife as apparent homicide

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating the deaths of Hollywood actor and filmmaker Rob Reinerand his wife as an “apparent homicide,” amid a wave of tributes to the director of classics such as When Harry Met Sally.

According to U.S. media reports on Sunday, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Los Angeles mansion with what appeared to be stab wounds.

Several political figures shared messages of condolence following the reported deaths of the director of A Few Good Menand his wife.

While the LAPD did not officially confirm the identities of the victims, it stated that homicide detectives were dispatched to the Reiner residence.

“At this time, no additional details are available and the investigation into an apparent homicide is ongoing,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement posted on social media.

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LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that no arrests have been made and that no individuals are currently being questioned as suspects.

“I’m not going to confirm whether anyone is being questioned at this moment or not. We are going to try to speak with as many family members as we can,” Hamilton said.

CNN reported that a family spokesperson confirmed the deaths of Reiner and his wife.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and former Vice President Kamala Harrisissued statements expressing their condolences.

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International

U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty

The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.

The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.

Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.

“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.

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The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.

Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.

Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.

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International

Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus

Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.

“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.

At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.

After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.