Day: March 26, 2022

The ongoing war has led to a catastrophic effect on civilians in Ukraine as more than 3.7 million fled the country, according to the UN refugee agency.

Russia has been slapped with massive sanctions by the West in response, President Vladimir Putin says the moves against Russians were like the ugly, racist persecution seen under Nazi Germany.

The warring parties report a conflicting number of casualties. Moscow claims to have killed 14,000 Ukrainian soldiers and its losses amounted to 1,351. On the other hand, Ukrainian authorities claim the death toll of Russian forces has topped 15,000.

As the war rages, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country, along with Turkiye and Greece, would conduct a joint evacuation for residents in the besieged city of Mariupol.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said NATO was the cornerstone of European security and his country was an indispensable ally in ensuring regional security.

Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke via telephone and discussed the situation on the ground with regards to the war as well as the “stage reached” in talks to end the conflict.

The war led to a major energy crisis for the EU, which is largely dependent on Russian gas; however, the EU and US announced a new deal to supply extra liquefied natural gas to the European bloc to curb its dependence.

The US confirmed it canceled talks with the Taliban because the hardline group decided to cancel secondary education for Afghan girls.

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen blamed Houthi rebels for attacking an Aramco oil facility in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah.

After five days of intense search operations, no survivor has been found in the crash of a Chinese airplane with 132 people on board.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Despite huge protests, the Bangladesh Forest Department has begun implementing a project for a new safari park, potentially endangering the rich biodiversity of the Lathitila forest.

Lathitila is a forest on an area of over 5,100 acres in the Moulvibazar district, and the proposed safari park will be set up on 270 acres there. According to official data, the park will occupy an area containing 209 species of animals and 603 species of plants.

At least 10,000 trees would be cut down, the character of the evergreen forest would change, and animals and birds living there would lose their habitat, experts and rights activists said in their comments coinciding with Forests Week, which runs from March 21 to 26.

The park will be the third safari park in Bangladesh. The Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry has already approved the master plan for the Lathitila safari park project worth 8.5 billion Taka ($98.5 million). Of the total budget, about 1.8 billion Taka ($20.8 million) will be allocated for purchasing animals, including from abroad.

The safari park is expected to see around 1 million visitors annually, according to its feasibility report.

However, the Environment Ministry has repeatedly claimed that the project will not affect biodiversity, the forest will be protected from illegal occupation and tourists will be able to view a variety of domestic and foreign animals.

Forest, biodiversity, ecology to face challenges

Pavel Partha, an ecology and biodiversity conservation researcher, told Anadolu Agency that the Dulahazara Safari Park in Cox’s Bazar is nothing but a zoo as it is rather run like that, while the second one in Gazipur has already endured the loss of at least 33 animals in a month due to poor management.

“We need public documentation and analysis of fauna and flora diversity, forest succession, ecosystem and characteristics of nearby rivers and waterfalls to take on any major project in a natural forest. But we don’t have public documentation on the Lathitila forest reserve,” he said.

“We had a negative experience over the establishment of the largest safari park in Bangladesh in the Sal forest of Gazipur, a tropical moist deciduous forest. It directly affected the Sal forest, its habitat and ecosystem.”

For fair survival, animals need to adjust or adopt to the forest or the safari park’s natural food chain and ecosystem, as captive animals or those in a safari park concept could not survive only on supplied foods, which was witnessed in the major safari park in Gazipur, he said.

“I fear a similar fate for the proposed safari park in Lathitila.”

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Md. Yunus Ali, former chief conservator of forests in Bangladesh, questioned why we should bring in animals from a dissimilar ecosystem like Africa.

“The Sal forest in Gazipur is a tropical moist deciduous forest. Such a forest environment is friendly for bacteria growth. And we know bacterial infection was among the major causes of death of the African animals in Gazipur Safari Park, which is situated in the Sal forest.”

“I fear a worse situation for the proposed safari park in Lathitila. It is not acceptable to bring animals like wildcats, lions and zebras to a different ecosystem.”

These are political decisions and they are not good for our biodiversity, Ali added.

“We often bring birds from other countries to entertain some influential officials or to release them in safari parks and zoos, and do not follow quarantine periods, which could be a major harm for the local biodiversity,” he said.

Both experts said there is a fundamental flaw in safari park management in Bangladesh.

Forest department claims no harm, experts disagree

“We conducted all the necessary flora and fauna documentation and study on forest succession. The feasibility study allowed for setting up the safari park on some 270 acres of land in the forest area,” Md. Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, an official with the Moulvibazar Forest Department said.

The safari park will mostly use the forest land occupied by locals and will reclaim it, he said.

He believes that the African animals can survive in Bangladesh, as both countries have tropical weather patterns.

Narayan Saha, a professor of forestry and environmental sciences at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, however, categorically criticized the government’s decision, saying: “It was a bad idea to set up a safari park in a small reserved forest enriched with biodiversity.”

He added that reclaiming forest land from villagers or locals who have long lived there will create another problem of displacement. “So we have to ensure the people’s safe relocation first,” he said.

“It’s a sign of destroying forests and trees, and it would be a challenge for the flora and fauna and animals to survive in the changing conditions. We have to protect the natural forests, so natural forests hold rich biodiversity.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

Pakistan Railways is set to change the centuries-old traditions of porters being hired by private contractors because the practice was exploitative and extorting contracts in the form of bonded labor.

Coinciding with the World Railways Workers Day, celebrated March 27, the Chief Executive Railways Zafar Zaman Ranjha said: “The proposal that is titled ‘Madadgaars,’ that means a helping hand, is ready and will be presented to the authorities for the approval in coming days. Because the private contractor exploits the wages of the porters through different and difficult contracts.”

The history of the institution of a “coolie,” or porter, on the railways on the subcontinent, is still alive after hundred years.

Their services are extremely pivotal for passengers at railway stations because the trains are designated to certain platforms and due to the old network of stairs and bridges in the stations, passengers cannot carry heavy luggage from one platform to another.

“These railway stations are not upgraded as the railway stations in Europe or West. They have a history. These bridges and stairs are more than a hundred years old. The Lahore Railway station was made shortly after 1857 and was renovated over the period of time but its main skeleton was never changed, that’s why porters are the backbone of our facilitation to the passengers and they also deserve a good wage and better quality of life,” said Zaman.

The proposal to revamp the existing porter system in the railway network is modeled on Alfred Marshall’s renowned “Efficiency Wage Theory” which signifies that higher wages induce better service delivery.

Digitalization of porter system

Along with new policies, a web-based mobile application will also be launched that will provide a database of all authorized and registered Madadgaars at a station along with their photographs and a specified file for complaints.

“With all the updated features, people will be able to pre-book the Madadgaar before coming to the station and the approved charges will be paid to the Madadgaars for their services by the passengers that will save them time and also the Madadgaars could keep the track on their earnings,” Zaman told Anadolu agency.

New uniforms and a Madadgaar desk will be set up at stations. A GPS-based armband that could pinpoint the location of Madadgaars will be implemented and it will also record the conversation between the Madadgaar and the passenger.

Legacy of the porters

Muhammad Hanif, 85, came to the Lahore Railway station after partition and can still narrate stories of passengers who traveled on trains during the partition in 1947.

“I came to Lahore from district Karnal, Panipat India and I started working as a porter on this railway station when I was 15 years old. I have seen thousands of people reaching their destinations and millions of stories unfolding in front of my eyes. But I always wished that the government should do something for us,” said Hanif.

Welcoming the decision to digitalize the porters, Ashfaq Ahmed, representative of the porter’s union said, “Who does not want to earn a better livelihood? But it is too early to say anything about this digitalization.”

Salman Rashid, Pakistan’s renowned travel writer who traveled throughout his life via train, reminisced about the old and glorious time of railway workers and said: “The station master used to wear a crisp uniform. And the porters were young and vibrant in the 1960s and 1970s. With the passage of time, our quality of rail has decreased and for that, the government is only responsible.”

Railways until the late 2000s had marvelous dine-in bogies in which the staff used to serve freshly cooked food and trained waiters used to exchange trays of food from outside of the windows and doors of the moving trains.

“The government had one task to manage the already established railway system. The glorious Khyber mail even had showers installed in it and we used to dine-in in separate areas, but they did not do it right. We have to see what their new projects will be but cannot comment on them before time. But upgrading the system with the latest technology is the need of the hour,” said Rashid.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Iraq sealed off the heavily fortified Green Zone on Saturday ahead of a parliamentary session to elect the country’s new president, according to a local security official.

The vote is set to take place inside the Green Zone later on Saturday, an area that hosts most foreign diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy.

“Entrances to the Green Zone were closed to civilian entry and only official permit holders will be allowed to enter,” the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.

He said the move was part of tight security measures put in place ahead of the vote.

“Security forces were deployed heavily in the vicinity of the Green Zone in anticipation of any emergency,” the official added.

The election of a new president is an important step towards forming a new government in Iraq following the Oct. 10 parliamentary elections.

On Wednesday, the party of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced an agreement with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance on naming the KDP’s nominee Reber Ahmed for presidency and Mohammad Jaafar al-Sadr of Al-Sadr party for the position of Iraq’s prime minister.

Presidential elections initially scheduled for last month stalled after most parliamentary blocs boycotted the voting session due to differences over presidential candidates and the government formation.

Under a political norm since 2006, a Kurd is elected for Iraq’s presidency, while a Sunni heads the parliament, and a Shia takes the prime minister position.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The 20th edition of the Doha Forum international conference kicked off on Saturday in the Qatari capital, Doha.

The two-day event, held under the theme “Transforming for a New Era”, sees the participation of prominent speakers, including policy-makers, representatives of international organizations, business leaders, activists and the academia among others.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said Doha Forum was founded 22 years ago to provide a venue for decision-makers, experts and the media from our region and the world at large.

Commenting on the Russian war on Ukraine, the Qatari ruler said the war reveled “beyond any doubt that the formulas upon which the international order was based in the aftermath of World War II – and after the end of the Cold War are changing.”

Russia began its war on Feb. 24. It has been met with international outrage, with the EU, US, and UK, among others, implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.

At least 1,081 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 1,707 injured, according to UN estimates, while noting that the true figure is likely far higher.

More than 3.7 million Ukrainians have also fled to neighboring countries, with over 6.5 million displaced inside the country, according to the UN refugee agency.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Natural gas power plants generate nearly 200 gigawatts of the total installed capacity of 950 gigawatts in Europe, according to data compiled by the Anadolu Agency from international sources.

The number of natural gas power plants on the European continent is calculated as approximately 881, out of which Germany ranks first with around 180.

Italy follows with 143 plants, the Netherlands with 83 plants, and Spain and the UK each with 81 plants.

Italy’s natural gas installed power totals 40 gigawatts. Installed power in Germany from natural gas power plants amounts to approximately 31 gigawatts, followed by the UK with an installed power close to the same levels.

Spain has an installed capacity of 29 gigawatts and capacity in the Netherlands amounts to 18 gigawatts.

Estonia ranks the lowest with only 173 megawatts.

Europe produces 20% of its electricity from coal, 13% from nuclear power plants, 25% from natural gas, and 18% from renewable energy.

Europe purchases 40% of its gas from Russia, 24% from Norway and 11% from Algeria.

The As Pontes natural gas power plant, located in the northwest of Spain, is one of the largest-capacity power plants in Europe, generating 2,324 megawatts. It can also run on coal.

The highest-capacity plant running on natural gas alone was the 1,180-megawatt Peterhead plant in the UK.

The power plant with the highest installed capacity in Germany is the Emsland plant with 887 megawatts. This is followed by Irsching with 846 megawatts and Knapsack with 800 megawatts.

Norway, despite not having any power plants, is an important gas hub for Europe with 23 pipelines and 8 LNG terminals for distribution.

The approximate number of power plants in European countries is listed as follows:

1- Germany – 180 power plants

2- Italy – 143 power plants

3- Netherlands – 83 power plants

4- Spain – 81 power plants

5- UK – 81 power plants

6- Romania – 30 power plants

7- Belgium – 25 power plants

8- France – 23 power plants – It uses nuclear energy intensively

9- Hungary – 18 power plants

10- Greece – 13 power plants

11- Austria – 12 power plants

12- Poland – 11 power plants – Coal is used extensively

13- Bulgaria – 8 power plants

14- Slovenia – 8 power plants

15- Finland – 7 power plants

16- Sweden – 4 power plants

17- Czechia – 5 power plants

18- Slovakia – 4 power plants

19- Lithuania – 4 power plants

20- Latvia – 3 power plants

21- Estonia – one power plant

The top 10 power plants with the highest natural gas installed capacity in Europe are listed as follows:

1- As Pontes Power Plant – Spain – 2,324 megawatts

2- Peterhead Power Plant – UK – 1,180 megawatts

3- Spalding Power Plant – UK – 950 megawatts

4- Carrington Power Plant – UK – 910 megawatts

5- Langage Power Plant – UK – 905 megawatts

6- Montalto Di Castro Power Plant – Italy – 900 megawatts

7- Emsland Power Plant – Germany – 887 megawatts

8- Simeri Crichi Power Plant – Italy – 885 megawatts

9- Besos 5 Power Plant – Spain – 859 megawatts

10- Petrom Brazi Power Plant – Romania – 850 megawatts

Source: Anadolu Agency