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☆ Why the threat of land degradation will shape international cooperation for decades to come
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Extraordinary circumstances have degraded 40% of global land iStockCertain places around the world are already experiencing this at an accelerated rate. And that’s just one state; at present rates, land degradation threatens half of the global GDP. The Economics of Land Degradation also estimated that each dollar invested into land restoration will return up to $30 in value. The threat of land degradation is a shared burden. And a decade after the Changwon Initiative was launched, it has successfully defined Land Degradation Neutrality, enabling 129 countries to align with its principles and work towards zero land degradation.

Persons: COP16 Organizations: United Nations Convention, UN, Changwon Initiative Locations: COP16, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, California, United States, Saharan Africa, Canada, Spain, United Kingdom, Sahel, Africa

☆ Over a year of astonishing ocean heat has given way to the largest coral bleaching on record
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The previous record from the 2014 to 2017 mass bleaching affected just below 66% of the world’s reef area. Triggered by heat stress in warm oceans, coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the colourful algae living in their tissues. A bleached coral is not dead, but ocean temperatures need to cool off for any hope of recovery. “We’ve never had a coral bleaching event this big before.”In just the last six weeks, bleaching has been confirmed in the waters of Palau, Guam and Israel. What are we going to do about it?” said Emily Darling, who leads the Wildlife Conservation Society’s global coral reef conservation programme.

Persons: Derek Manzello, Sirachai Arunrugstichai, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Manzello, “ We’ve, ”, Emily Darling, El Niño Organizations: CNN, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Reuters, NOAA, Reef, Getty, ”, United Nations, Wildlife Conservation Locations: Trat, Thailand, Raja Ampat, Indonesia's West Papua, AFP, Palau, Guam, Israel, Caribbean, South China, Colombia

☆ Opinion: China’s ‘monster’ ship is a sign of a much bigger problem
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-24 | by ( Opinion Richard Timme | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Editor’s Note: Rear Adm. Richard Timme retired from the US Coast Guard after 32 years of service. For the antithesis of this ethos, look directly at the China Coast Guard. It’s an homage, intended or not, to the nobility of purpose embodied in our coast guard. That is why I find the conduct of the China Coast Guard so jarring and disconcerting — such as attacking and destroying a Philippine resupply mission. Video Ad Feedback Shocking scenes as Filipino boats are targeted by the Chinese coast guard 03:04 - Source: CNNInstead of guarding, protecting, defending and saving, as a coast guard should do, the China Coast Guard is attacking, intimidating, violating and threatening its neighbors in the region.

Persons: Richard Timme, “ Gray, Adm, Samuel Paparo, Guard Cutter Healy, ’ EEZs, who’s Organizations: US Coast Guard, CNN, China Coast Guard, Guard, Navy, Mellon, Pacific, Center for Strategic, International Studies, CSIS, United Nations Convention, US Navy, Pacific Command, Arctic Council, Security, Polar, US, Coast Guard Locations: Philippine, China, Philippines, South, US, Richard Timme China, South China, People’s Republic, United States, Japan

☆ Japanese warship entered China's waters near Taiwan despite warnings, domestic media reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-11 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A Japanese maritime self-defense force destroyer entered Chinese territorial waters recently in spite of warnings by Chinese vessels, Kyodo News reported Thursday. The Suzutsuki temporarily ventured into waters off China's eastern province of Zhejiang on July 4, according to Kyodo. Instead, the vessel "sped up and navigated" into the Chinese waters for about 20 minutes before leaving. Japan is holding the position that the destroyer's entry into Chinese waters was not illegal, Kyodo News reported. China often sends its coast guard and military vessels into Japanese territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Organizations: Self, Defense Force, Kyodo, China's, Safety Administration, United Nations Convention Locations: Japan, Tanjung Priok, Jakarta, Indonesia, Zhejiang, East, Beijing, China

☆ Stunning images of ocean life in proposed deep-sea mining zone
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Sometimes they have been seen/observed/known before, but not collected or formally described,” said Regen Drennan, a postdoctoral marine biologist at London’s Natural History Museum. If deep-sea mining follows the same trajectory as offshore oil production, more than one-third of these critical metals will come from deep-ocean mines by 2065, the federal agency estimated. However, several countries, including the United Kingdom and France, have expressed caution, supporting a moratorium or ban on deep-sea mining to safeguard marine ecosystems and conserve biodiversity. Along with the transparent unicumber, the creature is a type of sea pig within the scientific family called Elpidiidae. It’s also possible, these scientists warn, that deep-sea mining could disrupt the way carbon is stored in the ocean, contributing to the climate crisis.

Persons: James Cook, ”, Regen Drennan, Drennan, wasn’t, ” Drennan, It’s Organizations: CNN, Clarion, National Oceanography Centre, Geological Survey, Authority, United Nations Convention, NHMDeepSea Locations: London, United Kingdom, France

☆ Letting children play rugby amounts to child abuse, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Allowing children to play impact sports, such as rugby or boxing, amounts to a form of child abuse, researchers from three British universities said in a new study. “The child’s brain doesn’t know or care how it was traumatized,” study lead author Eric Anderson, Professor of Sport at the University of Winchester, told CNN. And so we need to stop parents from hitting children in the head as punishment. The study argues that children cannot consent to taking part in highly dangerous activities such as impact sports, nor can adults give informed consent on their behalf. “If we were to invent sports from the get-go today, we wouldn’t be inventing sports that had children hitting their brains,” Anderson said.

Persons: “, Eric Anderson, ” “ It’s, Gary Turner, ”, Keith Parry, ” Anderson Organizations: London CNN, Philosophy, of Sport Association, University of Winchester, Bournemouth University, Nottingham Trent University, Rugby Football Union, RFU, CNN, England Boxing, Sport, United Nations Convention, Department for Sport, Management, University of Bournemouth, soccer’s Football, Athletics, Grassroots Sport Locations: British, England

☆ U.S. Political Support for Deep-Sea Mining Is Growing Despite Pushback From Allies
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Photo: The Metals CompanyU.S. political support for deep-sea mining has taken on a new urgency as Norway this week became the first country to legalize extraction of minerals from the ocean bottom despite strong opposition from western allies. On Tuesday, Norway became the first country in the world to approve deep-sea mining within its waters despite pushback from environmental groups and some nations. Despite the opposition, deep-sea mining in international waters could become legal this year. The International Seabed Authority—the United Nations-backed organization that regulates all mineral activities in international waters—has been drafting a mining code to govern the practice. “Promising to protect the oceans one day and proposing deep-sea mining the next, is next-level hypocrisy [for Norway],” said Amanda Louise Helle, Greenpeace Norway activist.

Persons: Sen, Lisa Murkowski, ”, Amanda Louise Helle, “, Yusuf Khan Organizations: Metals Company, Pentagon, Department of Defense, United Nations, ISA, U.S . Senate, United Nations Convention, Clarion, Greenpeace Locations: Norway, China, United States, France, Germany, Canada, U.S, isn’t, Alaska, Hawaii, Greenpeace Norway

☆ China warns against maritime 'camp' confrontations but stops short of naming US
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Ryan Woo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during the opening ceremony of the diplomatic symposium at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on October 24, 2023 in Beijing, China. The Philippines, Japan and the United States have complained about what they say is growing Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. Last month, China and the Philippines traded barbs over a collision in the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked the passage of Philippine ships. Beijing has been especially critical of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, which identifies China as an aggressor in the region, including the South China Sea, undermining international maritime law including freedom of navigation. China will continue to fulfil its obligations under international maritime laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Wang said, again without referring to Washington.

Persons: Wang Yi, Ken Ishii, Wang, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Ryan Woo, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Rights, Economic Cooperation, United Nations Convention, UNCLOS, Thomson Locations: Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, Philippines, Japan, South China, Philippine, Manila, Hainan, U.S, Asia, Washington

Lawmakers backing the bill say a large number of companies in the state already disclose some of their own emissions. California’s climate disclosure bill would be different because of all the indirect emissions companies would have to report. But the California bill would go beyond that, by mandating that both public and private companies report their direct and indirect emissions. Companies would have to report indirect emissions including those released by transporting products and disposing waste. Companies would have to begin publicly disclosing their direct emissions annually in 2026 and start annually reporting their indirect emissions starting in 2027.

Persons: Chris Ward, Christiana Figueres, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Sen, Scott Wiener, “, ”, Brady Van Engelen, Danny Cullenward, Cullenward, it’s, Mary Creasman, ___ Sophie Austin, Austin @sophieadanna Organizations: —, Democratic, Apple, United Nations, Democratic Gov, Lawmakers, administration’s Department of Finance, San, San Francisco Democrat, National Conference of State Legislatures, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Companies, California Chamber of Commerce, Western States Petroleum Association, California Hospital Association, University of Pennsylvania’s, Center for Energy Policy, California Environmental Voters, California Air Resources Board, Wiener, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Patagonia, Christiana, Paris, San Francisco, Ceres, ”

☆ India succeeds in reducing emissions rate by 33% over 14 years - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Sarita Chaganti Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File PhotoNEW DELHI, Aug 9 (Reuters) - India's greenhouse emissions rate dropped by a faster-than-expected 33% in 14 years as renewable energy generation rose and forest cover increased, according to two officials privy to latest assessment made for submission to the United Nations. India's rate of emissions intensity - the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted for every unit increase of gross domestic product (GDP) - fell by 33% from 2005 to 2019, officials privy to the preparations of the Third National Communication (TNC) report said. India's average rate of reduction in emissions increased to 3% annually in the period 2016-2019, from just about 1.5% in the period 2014-2016. The progress made on reducing emissions intensity should help India avert pressure by developed nations to stop using coal, the second official said. Recently, India has also been trying to promote green hydrogen, manufactured by splitting water molecules using renewable energy.

Persons: Adnan Abidi, Sarita Chaganti Singh, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, National Communication, Reuters, Reuters . Central Electricity Authority, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India

☆ Sri Lanka parliament passes anti-corruption bill without vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, July 19 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's parliament approved an anti-corruption bill on Wednesday, aimed at improving governance in the crisis-hit country and meeting requirements linked to a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The legislation was passed without a vote in the 225-member parliament. "The bill is passed with amendments," Sri Lanka parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena told lawmakers after more than two dozen pages of amendments were included into the draft legislation during the morning session. The Anti-Corruption Bill increases the powers and resources allocated to Sri Lanka's Bribery and Corruption Commission, which is mandated with carrying out major investigations. "We welcome the law, but the proof of the pudding will be in the eating," said Sankhitha Gunaratne, Deputy Executive Director, Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL).

Persons: Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Sankhitha Gunaratne, Uditha Jayasinghe, Himani Sarkar, Christian Schmollinger, Emma Rumney Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, United Nations, Sri, Corruption Commission, Sri Lanka, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Asia

Ms. Battle has been leading an effort to have businesses pledge not to finance seabed mining or source seafloor materials in their supply chains. Similarly, prominent banks in Britain, such as Lloyds and Standard Chartered, are refusing to do business with deep-sea mining entities. But critics say that the expense and logistics of mining in the remote ocean — and transporting metals back to land — raise doubts about whether deep-sea mining can be profitable. “This industry could start without being needed,” she said of deep-sea mining. But seabed mining supporters say that existing mining is worse for the environment, and deep-sea mining could help wrestle control of critical metals from China and Russia.

Persons: Barron, DealBook, it’s, Jessica Battle Organizations: ” Regulators, United Nations, World Wildlife Fund, BMW, Google, Samsung, Volvo, Volkswagen, Lloyds, Standard Chartered, International Energy Agency Locations: Britain, China, Russia

☆ How to Prevent Another Submersible Tragedy Like OceanGate’s Titan - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Salvatore Mercogliano | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

The Polar Prince, the ship from which the submersible was launched, is of Canadian registry and based out of Canada. Both the United States Senate and the British Board of Trade led investigations into the loss of the ocean liner. The United States has not even ratified the U.N. convention. Meaning that if Titan was launched from a Canadian ship, from a Canadian port, Canada has jurisdiction. At present, it’s unclear which country has jurisdiction in the Titan investigation, as the craft was reportedly built in the United States but launched from a Canadian vessel.

Organizations: Canadian Transportation, U.S . Coast Guard, Marine Board of, U.S . National Transportation Safety, Titanic, United States Senate, British Board of Trade, Titan, United Nations ’ International Maritime Organization, Federal Aviation Administration, United Nations Convention, United, International Maritime Organization Locations: Canada, U.S, United States, Canadian

☆ Biden, Modi take careful aim at China, Russia in joint statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Washington has been frustrated by India's close ties with Russia while Moscow wages war in Ukraine. Modi did not address China or Russia directly, and Biden only mentioned China in response to a reporter's question. But a joint statement issued by the two after their 2.5 hour private meeting seemed to take aim at both nations. INTERNATIONAL ORDERThe two sides emphasized the importance of "rules-based international order," saying "the contemporary global order has been built on principles of the UN Charter, international law, and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states." Both countries pledged "continuing humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine" and "concurred on the importance of post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine."

Persons: Narendra Modi, Joe Biden, Washington, India's, Modi, Biden, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Jamie Freed Organizations: Indian, UN Charter, SOUTH CHINA SEA, United Nations Convention, South China, Thomson Locations: United States, India, Washington, Russia, Moscow, Ukraine, China, UKRAINE, Pacific, East, South

☆ 'A thin existence': man stranded in Turkey after being refused entry to Britain
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Ali Kucukgocmen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Twala holds South African citizenship, has lived in the UK since 2004 and is father to a British son. The UK Home Office has not responded to a request for comment Reuters made on Saturday. 'BAD DREAM'Twala said his son, Mason, was in shock when he heard that his father could not board the plane. After receiving a family court order for the part-time custody of his son, Twala said he believed he could travel outside the country. "It just feels like I'm in a bad, bad dream," Twala said, adding that he's had "dark" thoughts throughout his time stranded in Turkey.

☆ Britain denies plan to expel asylum seekers breaks law
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"We are confident that we are complying with the law, domestic and international," she told the BBC. Under the government's plans, almost all asylum seekers who reach Britain in small boats will be detained without bail before they are deported to their home country or, if this is not safe, another destination such as Rwanda. They will also lose the right to challenge their deportation while in Britain, and once deported will be automatically banned from returning. Last year, a record 45,000 people came to Britain in small boats across the Channel, mainly from France. If everyone who arrived in small boats last year were detained, this would be equal to about half of Britain's total prison population.

☆ Indonesia sends warship to monitor Chinese coast guard vessel
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Indonesia has deployed a warship to its North Natuna Sea to monitor a Chinese coast guard vessel that has been active in a resource-rich maritime area, the country's naval chief said on Saturday of an area that both countries claim as their own. A warship, maritime patrol plane and drone had been deployed to monitor the vessel, Laksamana Madya Muhammad Ali, the chief of the Indonesian navy, told Reuters. "However, we need to monitor it as it has been in Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for some time." At the time, China urged Indonesia to stop drilling, saying the activities were happening in its territory. Southeast Asia's biggest nation says that under UNCLOS, the southern end of the South China Sea is its exclusive economic zone, and named the area as the North Natuna Sea in 2017.

☆ Coca chewing gets chic makeover with bubblegum flavor and TikTok fans
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Monica Machicao | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A demonstrator uses coca leaves during clashes with police over a new coca market, in La Paz, Bolivia August 8, 2022. REUTERS/Claudia Morales/File PhotoSANTIAGO, Nov 12 (Reuters) - With flavors ranging from bubble gum to passion fruit and TikTok stars promoting it, chewing coca has become the latest chic trend in Bolivia. Andean villagers have chewed coca leaves - the base ingredient of cocaine - for centuries to help ward off the effects of high altitude and hunger. Consumption of the leaves is legal in Bolivia and coca is considered by many in the region as a sacred plant. To the traditional "bolo" of coca leaves and baking soda enterprising locals are adding sweeteners and flavoring.

Leaders and representatives from 14 Pacific island states are taking part in the summit. Washington and its allies want to boost maritime security and island states' communication links with countries like Japan, Australia and India, he said. SOLOMON ISLANDS TIES TO CHINAIn a statement on the first day of the talks, Henry Puna, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, said he was confident the islands and the United States "can, and ... will secure and build a partnership." Sogavare has repeatedly appeared to snub the United States, heightening Washington's concerns. Wednesday's talks included a session hosted by U.S. special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry, who praised Pacific island leaders for a more ambitious global climate target than agreed at the 2015 Paris climate summit.

☆ Ship captains held by Indonesian navy decry bribes and betrayal
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Joe Brock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

Most of the captains were freed after a few weeks once ship owners made unofficial payments to navy intermediaries of between $300,000 and $400,000, the people said. The Indonesian navy has said it never requests or receives money to release vessels. Ledoux, 57, questioned why more wasn't being done by ship owners and governments to raise awareness of the issue. An Indonesian navy spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. Reuters has not seen what evidence was presented at the trial to prove the ship was in Indonesian waters.

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