Day: November 11, 2022

Several reports about climate change and its growing effects were released in October along with encouraging initiatives and pledges for environmental protection.

Below is a list of environmental developments, reports and events compiled by Anadolu Agency.

Oct. 3:

Spain officially grants legal personhood to the Mar Menor saltwater lagoon, a unique ecosystem threatened by environmental collapse.

Oct. 6:

At least 150 people are killed and 300 injured in disasters induced by climate change in the landlocked African country of Rwanda in the past nine months of this year, according to official figures.

Oct. 7:

Pakistan is on the verge of a public health disaster after the devastating floods, warns UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as the world body now seeks $816 million to help the South Asian nation, a surge of $656 million from the initial appeal.

Oct. 10:

Spanish scientists find that of 58 fish and seafood species sold in local markets in Spain, Italy and France, just 13 presented mercury concentrations that the EU considers safe.

Oct. 13:

Authorities in Australia issue warnings, urging residents in some areas of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania states to relocate to safer places following heavy rain and flooding.

Global wildlife population declined an average of 69% since 1970, reveals a newly published report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

Oct. 17:

In 10 months, the death toll in Nigeria’s floods has hit 603, while roughly 2.5 million people have been displaced, says the country’s the disaster management minister.

Oct. 19:

After the hottest summer on record, parts of Spain continue breaking records for hottest-ever temperatures in October, says the national meteorological agency.

Chad’s transitional president, Mahamat Idriss Deby, announces a state of emergency, deploring the human and material damage caused by massive flooding in the country.

Oct. 20:

The first Environment Forum organized by Anadolu Agency kicks off in Istanbul with many experts, media professionals and academicians in attendance to raise awareness of the climate crisis and environmental issues.

Leading news agencies in the Mediterranean region, including Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA), Agencia EFE and Anadolu Agency, are set to sign a joint declaration to cooperate in protecting the forests of the Mediterranean.

A new species of rove beetle, “the lathrobium gocmeni,” is discovered in northwestern Türkiye.

Oct. 21:

Devastating floods in Nigeria put the lives of more than 1.5 million children at risk, warns UNICEF.

Oct. 23:

A strong cyclone named Sitrang is likely to hit coastal regions in Bangladesh, warns weather authorities.

Oct. 25:

A Spanish man hailed as a hero for protecting his town from the flames of a wildfire in July dies from burn injuries.

Oct. 26:

The World Bank, as part of its mission to strengthen physical infrastructure and make it more resilient to natural disasters, approves $200 million in financing to help reduce the flood risk in Tanzania’s port city of Dar es Salaam.

Oct. 27:

The Basque Country in northern Spain activates its wildfire protocol amid record heat and strong winds from the south.

Oct. 28:

More than 3.4 million people are displaced by destructive flooding in West and Central Africa, says the UN Refugee Agency, calling for urgent funding to address their surging needs.

More than 150 million children across East and Southern Africa are gripped by grinding poverty and climate disaster, according to a report by Save the Children.

Oct. 31:

Norway will resume its Amazon payments to Brazil following Inacio Lula da Silva’s victory in presidential elections, according to the country’s environment minister.

Source: Anadolu Agency

The withdrawal of the Russian army from the southern city of Kherson to the eastern bank of Ukraine’s Dnieper River was completed early this morning, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

“Not a single unit of military equipment and weapons has been left on the western bank. All Russian servicemen crossed to the left bank of the Dnieper,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian units took defensive positions, prepared in advance, the ministry said, adding that the withdrawal was carried out without losses.

“All civilians who wished to leave the western bank part of the Kherson region were assisted in evacuation,” the ministry said.

Last month, some 115,000 residents of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, then under Russian control, were evacuated amid a Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Sergey Surovikin, the commander of the Russian military group in Ukraine, said the military had stayed to ensure the safe evacuation of civilians, and now with that task completed, they can withdraw.

Speaking this week on the withdrawal, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has worked to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, said: “Russia’s decision regarding Kherson is positive, an important decision.”

Source: Anadolu Agency

The Senegalese Football Federation on Friday unveiled the country’s squad list for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including Bayern Munich star Sadio Mane.

On Tuesday, Mane was forced off with a leg injury in a German Bundesliga clash against Werder Bremen, but he still made the West African country’s squad.

Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly, who is also the national team captain, and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy are among other notable names on the team.

Young Tottenham Hotspurs midfielder Pape Matar Sarr will play his maiden World Cup in the upcoming Qatar 2022.

Alanyaspor’s Famara Diedhiou is a familiar face in the squad for Turkish Super Lig fans.

The Senegal National Football Team bagged the latest African Cup of Nations in 2021.

The 2022 World Cup, hosted by the Gulf nation of Qatar, is set to start on Nov. 20 and end on Dec. 18.

Senegal Squad:

Edouard Mendy (Chelsea), Alfred Gomis (Rennes), Seny Dieng (Queens Park Rangers), Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea), Abdou Diallo (Leipzig), Pape Abou Cisse (Olympiacos), Formose Mendy (Amiens), Ismail Jakobs (Monaco), Fode Ballo Toure (AC Milan), Youssouf Sabaly (Real Betis), Pape Gueye (Olympique Marseille), Nampalys Mendy (Leicester City), Mamadou Loum (Reading), Cheikhou Kouyate (Nottingham Forest), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Idrissa Gueye (Everton) Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Moustapha Name (Pafos FC), Iliman Ndiaye (Sheffield United), Sadio Mane (Bayern Munich), Ismaila Sarr (Watford), Nicolas Jackson (Villarreal), Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Boulaye Dia (Salernitana), Bamba Dieng (Olympique Marseille), Famara Diedhiou (Alanyaspor)

Source: Anadolu Agency

French malt producers issued a warning Friday on the dramatic effects of the energy crisis on their profession.

In a press release, the union of malt producers in the country said producers were “already weakened by the Corona crisis in 2020 and the consequent increase in the price of barley in 2021.” Now, the energy crisis has hit the industry, it said.

Highly energy-intensive, malt production is heavily dependent particularly on gas costs for heating and drying the grain.

France is the top exporter of malt in Europe and the second-largest in the world, with around 85% of French production destined for export to other EU nations, as well as Africa, Asia, and South America.

Producers now fear a decline in competitiveness and massive losses in international market share. In its press release, the union called for access to state aid to be simplified.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Spanish coach Luis Enrique on Friday announced his 26-player squad for the World Cup kicking off in Qatar this month.

Seven Barcelona players have made the cut, including young stars Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati.

Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, and seasoned veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba round off the contingent from the Catalan club.

Other notable names picked are Cesar Azpilicueta, Dani Carvajal, Rodri, Alvaro Morata, Pau Torres, Jose Gaya, and Dani Olmo.

Enrique made some big calls when it came to omissions, leaving out the likes of former captain Sergio Ramos, David De Gea, and Thiago Alcantara.

Spain are one of only eight countries to have won the World Cup, lifting the coveted trophy in 2010 in South Africa.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion), Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David Raya (Brentford)

Defenders: Pau Torres (Villarreal), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Jose Gaya (Valencia), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia)

Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Pedri (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Soler (Paris Saint-Germain), Koke (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Dani Olmo (Leipzig), Ansu Fati (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid)

Source: Anadolu Agency

UN officials on Friday met with Russia’s deputy foreign minister to discuss the unimpeded export of grain and fertilizers.

Rebeca Grynspan, the secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths met with a high-level Russian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Vershinin in Geneva.

The talks at the Palais des Nations were not open to the media.

“It is hoped that the discussions will advance progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilizers originating from the Russian Federation to the global markets,” Alessandra Vellucci, director at UN Information Services, said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul on July 22 to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which paused after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February.

The accord allows the export of food and fertilizers from Black See ports in Ukraine’ and could expire on Nov. 19 if Russia or Ukraine object to its extension.

Grain and fertilizer

The UN has noted that part of the July deal also facilitates exports of Russian grain and fertilizer, and the talks in Geneva will broach that aspect.

“They will continue ongoing consultations in support of the efforts by the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the full implementation of the two agreements signed on 22 July in Istanbul,” said Vellucci.

“It is hoped that the discussions will advance progress made in facilitating the unimpeded export of food and fertilizers originating from the Russian Federation to the global markets,” she added.

At Friday’s press conference, Olga Sarrado, the UN refugee agency’s spokesperson, warned of extreme hardship for forcibly displaced families across the globe this winter.

“Millions of people from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and across the Middle East displaced by conflict or persecution could face a perilous winter as freezing temperatures add to the misery already induced by spiraling prices, the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather linked to the climate crisis,” Sarrado said.

She said that UNHCR is warning that for many of the world’s forcibly displaced, this coming winter will be far more challenging than in recent years.

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“Many displaced families will have no option but to choose between food and warmth as they struggle to heat their shelters, source warm clothing, and cook hot meals,” she added.

Source: Anadolu Agency