Only 13 countries in the world breathe safe air. Three of them are in Europe India is home to the world’s most polluted city, according to IQAir’s newly released World Air Quality Report. Only 14 percent of cities worldwide breathe safe air, a decline from 17 percent in the previous year. The Swiss pollution monitoring company IQAir analyzed data from 9,446 cities across 143 countries, regions, and territories for its 2025 report. The findings reveal a global decline in air quality, driven largely by human-caused climate change. Wildfire smoke, dust storms, and extreme weather events intensified by fossil fuel use were key contributors to poor air quality in 2025. In Europe, the worst wildfire year on record saw blazes sweep across the continent, peaking in August with devastating impacts on farms, woodlands, and homes. The extreme weather caused at least €43 billion in short-term economic losses, fueled by deadly heatwaves, floods, and droughts. The World Health Organization (WHO) sets safe limits for PM2.5, fine particulate matter that poses serious health risks. These microscopic particles, smaller than 2.5 micrometers, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, linking to respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and long-term illnesses like cancer. Only three European countries met the WHO’s annual PM2.5 guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³) in 2025: Andorra, Estonia, and Iceland. These nations, along with 10 other territories globally, are among the 13 countries and regions that remained within safe limits. The remaining 130 countries—91 percent of the total—did not meet the guidelines. The five most polluted countries were Pakistan (67.3 µg/m³), Bangladesh (66.1 µg/m³), Tajikistan (57.3 µg/m³), Chad (53.6 µg/m³), and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (50.2 µg/m³).#world_health_organization #estonia #iqair #andorra #iceland
Seven countries to boycott Paralympics ceremony over flag-flying Russians The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed that seven nations and the British government will skip the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics in Verona, Italy, in protest against the inclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes. The Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine have decided not to send representatives to the event, which will take place on Friday night. The UK government also declined to send officials, citing its opposition to Russian athletes competing under their national flag during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. However, the minister for sport, Stephanie Peacock, will attend the event in Cortina to support ParalympicsGB athletes. The IPC stated that Russian athletes will compete under their own flag for the first time since 2014, despite being banned from the 2022 Paralympics following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The organization emphasized that its decision to allow Russian participation aligns with democratic principles, as the IPC’s general assembly voted on the issue in September 2025. The vote resulted in no suspension of Russian or Belarusian athletes, reversing previous decisions from 2022 and 2023. Andrew Parsons, the IPC president, defended the move, stating that the IPC respects the decisions of its member organizations and cannot selectively apply democratic principles. Parsons acknowledged the controversy surrounding the decision, noting that it has not been well received globally. He reiterated the IPC’s commitment to supporting all stakeholders and ensuring the event remains a platform for social change, particularly for the 1.3 billion people with disabilities worldwide.#czech_republic #international_paralympic_committee #estonia #finland #stephanie_peacock
