Illinois nature lovers and scientists warn of population declines among native bees and other pollinators

2023/09/12

Barbara Williams carries an insect net and looks for bees, dragonflies and other insects in Deer Run Forest Preserve on Aug. 16, 2023, in Cherry Valley, Illinois.

 - Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Barbara Williams zeros in on a patch of yellow wildflowers with her binoculars. She leans in slightly, her beetle earrings jangling, and proclaims “that’s definitive.”

Williams has spotted the rusty patched bumblebee. Perched on the petals of the cup plant, the bee is identifiable based on its black and white stripes and the tawny patch on its second abdominal segment.

“She is undoubtedly a she,” Williams remarks as the bee flies to a different flower. “The workers, the ones that do all the serious foraging, are females.”

The 70-year-old amateur naturalist is relieved to have finally located the elusive bee after 30 minutes of searching at the Carl & Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve in Rockton, Illinois. Williams, a Rockford resident, has noticed a “disturbing” trend during her weekly trips to the preserve. The populations of some of her favorite insects — from bees to beetles to mosquitoes — appear to be in a “free fall,” she said.

Scientists say Williams’ observations have merit. While population sizes fluctuate year to year, research shows that there has been a dramatic decrease in the abundance of insects worldwide, specifically pollinators such as bees, flies, butterflies and beetles. Experts attribute some of the declines to habitat loss or pesticide use but warn that climate change poses new risks.

Paul CaraDonna, a conservation scientist at the Chicago Botanic Garden, said there’s quite a bit of evidence demonstrating long-term declines in insect populations. One study published in 2019 in the journal Biological Conservation revealed that 40% of the world’s insect species are facing extinction within the next few decades.

Another study, published in 2017 in PLOS ONE journal, found an “alarming” and “rapid” 75% decline in flying insect populations in nature protection areas in Germany during a 27-year time span. Researchers said these decreases will have widespread consequences for biodiversity and crop production.

CaraDonna compares species loss to a plane losing a bolt. The plane might not crash with the loss of one bolt, but if bolts keep disappearing, the plane will eventually fall out of the sky.

“We’re asking these critters to handle a lot and they’re being exposed to lots of stressors and extreme events much more frequently than they used to — that’s the concern,” he said.

Because many pollinators have an annual life cycle, CaraDonna cautioned that population sizes can shift substantially yearly based on a number of factors, such as weather, potentially contributing to some of the decreases Williams is seeing.

“A lot can happen from one year to the next in terms of a population having a relatively low abundance year, and that could be followed up for a variety of reasons with a really high abundance year,” he said. “Or, of course, it could be a signature of something that’s happening over and over again.”

Extreme weather in Illinois, such as drought, flooding or sweltering heat with temperatures reaching 100 degrees that have amassed attention this summer, can contribute to low abundance, he said.

“Your plants need water to be happy, so when we have these really dry conditions, it usually means the plants are under stress. When plants are under stress they tend to not do as well and one part of that is producing flowers for reproduction,” CaraDonna said. “Many pollinators rely on the flowers exclusively for food.”

“Extreme heat events can definitely cause some damage, and it can manifest in all sorts of ways,” he added. “Many insects especially in Illinois are probably able to withstand what we deem as a heat wave — they have a good amount of thermal safety margin — but if they’re in that environment for a really long time, that might change.”
The effects of climate change

Because of climate change, Christopher Dietrich, an entomologist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said the rusty patched bumblebee is in danger of disappearing entirely. Dietrich said the bee, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed as endangered in 2017, has narrow habitat tolerances and “it’s going to get too hot for them.”

It’s also been at the center of a legal fight to preserve the Bell Bowl Prairie from the Chicago Rockford International Airport’s expansion plans.

The rusty patched bumblebee and other bee species such as the American bumblebee have declined significantly in Illinois during the past 30 years, according to Alan Molumby, a biology professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The state was once a mecca for bee diversity, Molumby said, but that abundance is in the past.

He said two species worked to fill the “ecological void” — bombus impatiens and bombus bimaculatus — better known as the common eastern bumblebee and two-spotted bumblebee, respectively.

“It’s something a lot of people wouldn’t notice,” he said. “Unless you know bumblebees, you wouldn’t realize that what was once a lot of different species has now been replaced to just a couple species.”

It’s fortunate that most bees are generally adaptive and resilient to disturbances, Molumby added. He said bees can find and colonize new habitats in response to climate change. The problem, he said, is that because of rampant habitat destruction, suitable habitats may not exist.

“If you warm the planet now, a species can’t move,” he said.

Other pollinators and insects that live in Illinois will respond differently to climate change because their development requires different temperature and precipitation conditions, according to Dietrich. Mosquitoes, for example, depend on water sources to breed, Dietrich said. Under drought conditions, they won’t have enough places to breed and their population will decline.

Population declines are troubling, CaraDonna said, because pollinators are ecologically and economically important. They pollinate crops that humans rely on, as well as plants in the natural ecosystem, he said. According to the U.S. Forest Service, almost 80% of crop plants grown around the world require pollination by animals, meaning humans couldn’t survive without pollinators.

“I have a 6-year-old daughter and I wonder about the natural ecosystems that she’ll be experiencing when she’s in her 20s or 30s,” he said. “In terms of nature as we know it, I think the loss of species is important. But for pollinators, because they provide these important pollination services to plants, we stand to lose quite a bit.”
Saving native bees in Illinois

There are simple steps everyone can take to protect bees, or as CaraDonna likes to call them, “amazing and magical critters.” He suggests building pollinator gardens with native plants so they have lots to eat, reducing pesticide use or simply appreciating insects — even ones that aren’t usually considered pretty.

Even though it might seem counterproductive at first, CaraDonna advises against building honeybee colonies. Honeybees are known to take resources from and carry diseases that can infect native bees, such as the rusty patched or common eastern bumblebees, suppressing their populations.

“If you want to be saving the bees, we do not need more honeybee colonies,” he said.

When Anthony Demma learned about the plight of native bees, he decided to start up the nonprofit Bee Haven in the Chicago area and work to restore their habitats. In two years, Demma said they’ve installed them at about seven locations, including at farms and a corporate campus.

“From the beginning, we got to pick a site that makes sense. Right now we’re looking at a site for example on a retention pond. We’re thinking that would be a good site because it would give these native plants room to spread out,” Demma said. “Then we get an estimate on the budget, and the first thing we have to do is remove all the weeds that are currently there.”

Afterward, Demma said they work with an ecological restoration company to design, install and maintain the habitats. All in all, he said the projects — from one-tenth of an acre to 10 acres — all cost under $20,000.

“Most of the attention goes toward commercial honeybees because we get honey from them, but there’s tons of other species of pollinators out there doing similar or uniquely designed tasks, and they’re not getting the attention that the honeybees are getting,” Demma said.

Williams doesn’t need a push to care about insects — she’s been doing it all her life. As she walks along the confluence of the Rock and Pecatonica rivers searching for mussels, the Natural Land Institute volunteer said she’s always gravitated toward the underdogs — the bats, bees and wasps that people are scared of and might not appreciate.

Protecting them, she said, is still important.

“Any of those things that got mistreated and misunderstood, I was like ‘I need to save them,’” Williams said.

Barbara Williams looks for rusty patched bumblebees in the Nygren Wetland Preserve on Aug. 16, 2023, in Rockton, Illinois. - Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS

A rusty patched bumblebee flies over a cup plant at the Nygren Wetland Preserve on Aug. 16, 2023, in Rockton, Illinois. - Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS

© Chicago Tribune

AMERIKA
Commentary: To improve outcomes for students of color, the ‘college marketplace’ myth needs to end

2023/09/12

Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Virtually every policy that governs our higher education system is based on a dangerous myth — that students do, and should, meticulously shop around for colleges nationwide and pick the best fit.

That’s the classic image: The prospective college student visits a slew of colleges and completes an array of applications. Then, they debate their options. Finally, parents pack up the car and drive across the country to drop their child off at college.

The entire college selection apparatus — including college rankings, recruitment, marketing and entrance exams — fuels this “marketplace” perception. And following the U.S. Supreme Court’s curtailment of race-conscious admissions, most policy discussions have focused on ensuring students of color can still access and choose between highly selective colleges.

Here’s the reality: Only 1 in 5 undergraduate students travel outside their home state for college, according to research I conducted with the Institute for College Access & Success, a nonprofit that advocates for student-centered public policies. And typically, students travel less than 17 miles from home — generally attending a community college or local public university.

That’s not due to a lack of talent or educational aspirations. It’s because a growing number of students need to care for family members, have close ties to their communities or have work responsibilities. Even with a scholarship, many still won’t want to travel far. They just want to get a good education close to their homes and communities. And contrary to the “classic” image, 1 in 3 undergraduate students are older than age 24.

It’s hard to overstate just how harmful this “marketplace” misconception truly is, particularly for traditionally marginalized students.

For one, our federal government assumes that students would shop around for schools and uproot their lives if they simply had “better information” about where to go. So policymakers pour a monumental amount of time, money and resources into massive information campaigns and programs that help students choose among schools — such as College Scorecard, College Navigator and tuition watchlists.

On its own, this information does provide value to some students. But to reach the majority of students, the information must also come with investments into resources that will make the most impact where it is needed.

Furthermore, by assuming students can and should simply choose schools that are highly selective or have the most name recognition, policymakers perpetuate a flawed, inequitable cycle of funding that worsens inequalities. For example, in 26 states, public schools receive funding based on their performance — in other words, the number of students who graduate.

But schools that serve traditionally marginalized students face an uphill battle — one that goes beyond the bounds of simply educating students. Due to rampant inequalities in K-12 education and beyond, these colleges need to invest more in support services — such as academic advising, child care and instructional assistance — just so their students can get by.

Meanwhile, highly selective schools that predominantly serve white, wealthy students don’t have to make as much of an investment in these support areas. So while a more selective school might use funding to improve facilities, bring aboard a renowned faculty member or hire lobbyists to get even more money, an underresourced school might have to put funding toward ensuring its students have the bare minimum to continue their education.

That creates a vicious cycle: Highly selective, well-resourced schools can churn out graduates with ease. Meanwhile, underresourced schools continue to be sapped of funding because they don’t have sufficient resources to help all students graduate.

And then there’s another crucial source of funding: federal research dollars. Each year, the National Science Foundation, an independent government agency, doles out millions of dollars to colleges and universities for research endeavors. A whopping 80% of that funding goes to selective flagship and research universities, which disproportionately serve few students from low-income families and students of color. These colleges can then shower students with top-notch equipment and facilities and provide robust research opportunities. And that experience can open doors for graduates down the road.

In policymakers’ minds, students could simply choose to travel and attend a school with higher performance metrics and more funding. But that simply doesn’t happen in practice — and it shouldn’t have to.

Moreover, the “marketplace” myth has been front and center following the Supreme Court decision on race-conscious admissions. Higher education policy discussions have focused on a central question: How do we ensure students of color can still access the most selective colleges in the country? To be sure, that’s a noble mission. But that will help only a handful of students.

The bottom line is: To truly uplift the vast majority of students, we need to shore up the colleges that are already supporting these populations. Many people — particularly people of color — live in areas with only one public college nearby. By infusing these local, underresourced institutions with needed funding and tools, we can significantly improve student outcomes — and opportunities.

Our higher education system is rooted in a perilous, long-standing misconception. By debunking the myth that students can and should shop around for college, we can start forming policies that actually fit the realities of today’s students.

____

(Nicholas Hillman is a senior fellow at the Institute for College Access & Success. He is also a professor and director of the Student Success Through Applied Research Lab at the University of Wisconsin at Madison)

Putin wants to salvage Ukraine loss by electing Trump: former CIA director

Sarah K. Burris
September 12, 2023, 

Kremlin photos of Putin and Trump


Former CIA Director John Brennan thinks that Russian President Vladmir Putin is desperately trying to figure out a way to turn his Ukraine loss into a success.

Speaking to MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace on Tuesday, Brennan cited the goals Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un have for the 2024 election.

"Well, for Putin, it is absolutely essential, I think, that Donald Trump wins the election," he explained. "He's trying to prolong this war as long as he can, believing that it's going to lead the West and specifically the United States to relent eventually."

He noted that Trump has already sent signals that he would withdraw all assistance for Ukraine.

"So, Putin and Trump, it's very clear, that they are members of the autocrat's mutual admiration society, and they are going to flatter each other and play to each other's egos," said Brennan. "I think it is Putin's main lifeline in order to find some way to salvage what has been a debacle in Ukraine for him, and that is if Trump is able to return to the White House and so that Putin could have a like-minded individual that he can work with, detrimental to U.S. interests certainly and detrimental to western interests overall."

Brennan then addressed the meeting between Kim and Putin in Russia.

"Well, it's quite clear that Trump likes to associate with individuals of a similar bent," Brennan said. "Those who are, as Gen. [Barry] McCaffrey said, ruthless, very transactional, and very unprincipled. And, so, therefore, the fact that they're both pariahs on the international stage leads them to take advantage of the opportunity to meet."

It ultimately shows that the countries are not as isolated as the rest of the world wishes and they can shake hands with other world leaders, he explained.

See the discussion below or at the link here.

NASA to publish long-awaited UFO report

Issued on: 14/09/2023 - 

Washington (AFP) – NASA is set to release on Thursday the findings of a long-awaited study on unexplained flying objects in Earth's skies.

Reports of UAPs -- unidentified anomalous phenomena -- have long fascinated the public but were historically shunned by mainstream science 

© Patrick T. FALLON / AFP/File


The US space agency announced last year it was reviewing evidence regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs -- which has replaced the term "UFO" in official parlance.

The subject has long fascinated the public but was shunned by mainstream science.

An independent team of 16 researchers shared their preliminary observations in May, finding that existing data and eyewitness reports are insufficient to draw firm conclusions, while calling for more systematic collection of high-quality data.

It's unlikely Thursday's report will change that bottom line -- but it could eventually usher in the start of a new mission for the agency.

While NASA's probes and rovers scour the solar system for any fossils of ancient microbes, and its astronomers look for signs of intelligent civilizations on distant planets, its historic posture has been to "debunk" sightings on our home planet.

There have been more than 800 "events" collected over 27 years, of which two to five percent are thought to be possibly anomalous, the report's authors said during the May meeting.

These are defined as "anything that is not readily understandable by the operator or the sensor," or "something that is doing something weird," said team member Nadia Drake.

The US government has begun taking the issue of UAPs more seriously in recent years, in part due to concerns that they are related to foreign surveillance.

NASA's work, which relies on unclassified material, is separate from a Pentagon investigation, though the two are coordinating on matters of how to apply scientific tools and methods.

In July, a former US intelligence officer made headlines when he told a congressional committee he "absolutely" believes the government is in possession of unidentified anomalous phenomena -- as well as remains of their alien operators.

"My testimony is based on information I've been given by individuals with a longstanding track record of legitimacy and service to this country -- many of whom also shared compelling evidence in the form of photography, official documentation and classified oral testimony," David Grusch told lawmakers.

Earlier this week, the alleged bodies of two "non-human" beings were presented during a congressional hearing in Mexico, generating a mixture of surprise, disbelief and ridicule on social media.

The purported mummified remains, which had a grayish color and a human-like body form, were brought by Jaime Maussan, a controversial Mexican journalist and researcher who reported finding them in Peru in 2017.

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2023/09/scientists-call-fraud-on-supposed.html

https://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2023/09/secret-memo-raises-more-questions-about.html

LA REVUE GAUCHE - Left Comment: Search results for UFO 

WOMEN, LIFE, FREEDOM

Behind bars in Iran, leading activist insists change 'irreversible'

Issued on: 14/09/2023 

Paris (AFP) – She has not seen her children for eight years, has spent most of her recent life in prison and acknowledges there is no immediate prospect of release.

A protest movement erupted in Iran sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini 

© Yasin AKGUL / AFP

But Iranian rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi insists her struggle is worthwhile, saying the protest movement that erupted one year ago in Iran against the Islamic republic is still alive.

First arrested 22 years ago, Mohammadi, 51, has spent much of the past two decades in and out of jail over her unstinting campaigning for human rights in Iran. She has most recently been incarcerated since November 2021.

While she could only witness from behind bars the protests that broke out following the death on September 16 of Mahsa Amini -- who had been arrested for violating Iran's strict dress rules for women -- she says the movement made clear the levels of dissatisfaction in society.

"The government was not able to break the protests of the people of Iran and I believe that society has achieved things that have weakened the foundations of religious-authoritarian rule," she told AFP in written answers from Tehran's Evin prison where she is held.

Mohammadi is held in Tehran's Evin prison which was hit by a fire in October 

© KOOSHA MAHSHID FALAHI / MIZAN/AFP

Noting that Iran had even before September 2022 seen repeated protest outbreaks, she added: "We have seen cycles of protests in recent years and this shows the irreversible nature of the situation and the scope for the expansion of the protests."
'Realising democracy'

She said that after "44 years of oppression, discrimination and continuous repression of the government against women in public and personal life" the protests had "accelerated the process of realising democracy, freedom and equality in Iran".

Mohammadi, who observers tip as a Nobel Peace Prize candidate, said the protests opposing the Islamic republic had involved people "beyond urban areas and educated classes" at a time when religious authority was "losing its place" in society.

"The weakening of the religious element has created a vacuum that the government has not been able to fill with other economic and social factors, as the government is essentially ineffective and corrupt."

But she was bitterly critical of what she described as the "appeasement" by the West of Iran's leaders, saying foreign governments "have not recognised the progressive forces and leaders in Iran and pursued policies aimed at perpetuating the religious-authoritarian system in Iran."

Mohammadi argues there has been real change in Iran 

© photographer / AFP

Mohammadi said she was currently serving a combined sentence of 10 years and nine months in prison, had also been sentenced to 154 lashes and had five cases against her linked to her activities in jail alone.

"I have almost no prospect of freedom," she said.

'Indescribable suffering'

But she said she "kept the hope of seeing the light of freedom and hearing its voice" and in prison organised discussions in the women's wing of Evin as well as singing and even dancing.

"Prison has always been at the core of opposition, resistance and struggle in my country and for me it also embodies the essence of life in all its beauty."

"The Evin women's wing is one of the most active, resistant and joyful quarters of political prisoners in Iran. During my years in prison, on three occasions, I shared detention with at least 600 women, and I am proud of each of them."

But for Mohammadi, the cost of her activism has also been immense, meaning she has missed much of the childhood of her twin children Kiana and Ali who now live, along with her husband Taghi Rahmani, in France.

Mohammadi has been separated from her Paris based children and husband Taghi Rahmani 

© JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP

As well as not seeing them for eight years, restrictions placed by the prison on her telephone calls means she has not even heard their voices for more than a year and a half.

"My most incurable and indescribable suffering is the longing to be with my children from whose lives I departed when they were eight."

"The price of the struggle is not only torture and prison, it is a heart that breaks with every regret and a pain that strikes to the marrow of your bones."

But she added: "I believe that as long as democracy, equality and freedom have not been achieved, we must continue to fight and sacrifice."

'Sitting on a volcano': Amid fierce resistance & dissent, Iranian regime 'knows earthquake's coming'

Issued on: 14/09/2023
13:24
Video by: Mark OWEN

Iran's government has warned it will not tolerate any signs of "instability" as the first anniversary nears of the death of Mahsa Amini and the months-long protests it sparked. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died on September 16 last year after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic's strict dress code for women. Her death triggered months of nationwide demonstrations under the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom". One year on, no plans for demonstrations have been overtly announced to mark the anniversary of Amini's death on Saturday, which is also a religious public holiday. For in-depth analysis and a deeper perspective as Iran approaches this grim 1-year anniversary, FRANCE 24's Mark Owen and Leela Jacinto are joined by Sepideh Farsi, Iranian writer, film director, and 2023 winner for Best Director at the Champs-Élysées Film Festival for her film "The Siren".

!NOPASARAN!
Franco-era torture victim hopes to break Spain's 'wall of impunity'

Madrid (AFP) – Just months before the death of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, Julio Pacheco Yepes says he was arrested and tortured by police for belonging to a left-wing underground movement that opposed the regime.

Julio Pacheco Yepes was a teenager when he was arrested and tortured by Franco's police © PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP

Now, nearly five decades on, Pacheco Yepes is set -- at a hearing that opens on Friday -- to become the first victim of the Franco dictatorship to testify before a Spanish judge investigating allegations of torture.

"It could open a chink in the wall of impunity that we (victims) have had to suffer for so long," the 67-year-old told AFP at his home in Vallecas, a working-class district of southeastern Madrid, referring to the people who suffered repression during Franco's 1939-75 rule.

"It is an important milestone. Keep in mind that this all happened nearly 50 years ago. Until now, nobody, no judge, has accepted a lawsuit or heard testimony in court. This is a first."

Over the years, around a hundred lawsuits have been filed over alleged torture suffered during the Franco era, but none of them was ever admitted, according to associations representing victims.

Judges have argued that the amnesty law passed in 1977 during Spain's transition to democracy made it impossible to prosecute crimes committed by political opponents of the regime or those perpetrated by "civil servants and public order agents" such as police.

But many Franco-era victims such as Pacheco Yepes and his wife Rosa Maria Garcia Alcon -- who was also arrested in 1975 -- argue that torture is a crime against humanity which cannot be covered by an amnesty and the statute of limitations.
'A pact of silence'

"What was imposed (in Spain) was a pact of silence and it has taken many years" to break it, said Garcia Alcon, 66, who heads La Comuna victims' association.

In August 1975, Pacheco Yepes and Garcia Alcon -- teenagers who were going out together at the time -- were both arrested for their involvement in the Revolutionary Anti-Fascist and Patriot Front (FRAP), a left-wing student movement opposed to Franco.

Rosa Maria Garcia Alcon says police forced her boyfriend to watch them torturing her

 © PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP

They were taken to the police headquarters in Madrid's Puerta del Sol Square, which was used as a lockup and torture centre during the dictatorship.

They say various officers tortured them there for days before jailing them for "terrorism".

In December 1975, a month after Franco's death, the pair were released on bail. Several months later they were pardoned.

In 2018, Garcia Alcon filed a lawsuit against one of the two police officers she says tortured her but it was not admitted by the courts.

She will also take the stand on Friday as a witness in the case brought by her husband.

She says one of the ways the police tortured him was to force him watch them hurting her.
'Only truth can heal'

Pacheco Yepes filed his lawsuit against four of his alleged torturers in February, just months after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's left-wing government passed the democratic memory law honouring the victims of violence and persecution under Franco.

The law was opposed by the right, which said it would only re-open the wounds of Spain's past.


Pacheco Yepes said it was difficult to gather the documentation to support his case, given the "total" unwillingness of public bodies such as the National Archive to "cooperate".

While he would like to see his alleged torturers "sitting in the dock", if the judge ultimately decides not to put them on trial, it will still serve as an important reminder about "what Francoism was", he says.

This is particularly important at a time when the far-right Vox party is gaining ground and there is "a strong current" of nostalgia about the Franco era, he says.

"The only way to fight this... is by showing how politically backwards (the Franco dictatorship) was," he told AFP.

"The only way to close wounds is with the truth... If you don't, they will always bleed."


Issued on: 14/09/2023 - 
© 2023 AFP

Italian island struggles as migrant surge doubles population

Issued on: 14/09/2023 - 

Lampedusa (Italy) (AFP) – The tiny Italian island of Lampedusa struggled Thursday to cope with a surge in migrant boats from North Africa after numbers peaked at 7,000 people -- equivalent to the entire local population.

Days of good weather has led to a spurt in arrivals 

© Alessandro Serranò / AFP

The local reception centre, built to house fewer than 400 people, was overwhelmed with men, women and children forced to sleep outside on makeshift plastic cots, many wrapped in metallic emergency blankets.

Tensions broke out on Wednesday as food was being distributed by the Italian Red Cross, which runs the facility, causing police to intervene.

Some young men later left the overcrowded centre and went into Lampedusa's historic town centre -- where an AFP photographer found some of them buying ice-cream in a gelateria.

Several said they were hungry. Few had any money, and some restaurants turned them away. But other establishments offered food for free, or residents and tourists paid for them.

Located just 90 miles (around 145 kilometres) off the coast of Tunisia, Lampedusa is one of the first points of call for migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Days of fine weather has seen a surge in arrivals in recent days, with more than 5,000 people arriving in Italy on Tuesday alone, according to interior ministry figures.

Most are picked up at sea from rickety boats by the coastguard, which brings them to Lampedusa port.

But many do not make it that far. More than 2,000 people have died this year crossing between North Africa and Italy and Malta, according to the UN migration agency.

The latest victim was a five-month-old baby, who reportedly fell into the water early Wednesday as part of a group being brought to shore.
Critical situation

For years, Lampedusa's so-called migrant "hotspot" has struggled to cope with the numbers arriving, with humanitarian organisations reporting a lack of water, food and medical care.

The Italian Red Cross took over in June promising to offer a more "dignified" welcome, but admitted this week it was having difficulty with the surge in arrivals.

It reported more than 7,000 people at the hotspot on Wednesday evening, a figure "causing management problems, even if caused by a small number of people".

Some 5,000 people were due to be transferred by the end of Thursday to Sicily, where there are larger processing facilities.

"The situation is certainly complex and gradually, we are trying to return to normality," Francesca Basile, head of migration for the Italian Red Cross, said on Thursday morning.

She said that "despite the critical situation, we still tried to distribute cots to people to prevent them sleeping out in the open".

"We provided everyone with food and distributed dinner last night and today too everyone will receive what they need."

Italy's hard-right government allocated 45 million euros ($48 million) to Lampedusa earlier this month to help the island better manage the migrant situation.

But Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, elected one year ago on a pledge to end mass migration, is calling for European Union help.

Almost 124,000 migrants have arrived on Italy's shores so far this year, up from 65,500 in the same period last year.

The numbers have yet to pass those of 2016, however, when more than 181,000 arrived during a surge in irregular migration into Europe, many of them Syrians escaping war.

Around 7,000 migrants arrive on Italy's Lampedusa island in past two days

The small Italian island of Lampedusa is being overwhelmed by the numbers of migrants arriving on its shores after thousands of people landed from North Africa on boats over the past two days, its mayor said on Thursday.

Migrants queue in front of the Sicilian island of Lampedusa's migrant reception centre, Italy on September 14, 2023. © Valeria Ferraro, AP

By: NEWS WIRES

Issued on: 14/09/2023 -

Lampedusa sits in the Mediterranean between Tunisia, Malta and the larger Italian island of Sicily and is a first port of call for many migrants seeking to reach the European Union.

"In the past 48 hours, around 7,000 people have arrived in Lampedusa, which has always welcomed them with open arms," mayor Filippo Mannino told Italy's RTL 102.5 radio.

"However, we have now reached a point of no return and the island is in crisis," he said.

"Europe and the Italian state must step in immediately with a rapid support operation and swift transfer of people."

The island normally has a population of just over 6,000.

Some migrants on the island placed towels over their heads to shield themselves from the late summer sun as they waited to be processed by the Italian authorities.

Migrants wait near the port to be transferred to the mainland, on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, Italy on September 14, 2023. © Yara Nardi, Reuters

Footage from earlier in the week showed queues of flimsy boats, full of migrants, waiting to dock at Lampedusa's port.

The island's reception centre has an official capacity of around 400.

Hundreds of migrants were transferred to Porto Empedocle in Sicily on an overnight ferry where they were greeted by volunteers handing out food.

The arrivals are a headache for Giorgia Meloni's right-wing government which took power last October with a promise to crack down on immigration.

03:42© France 24

Meloni has sought to improve ties with Tunisia, from where most of the boats are now leaving, and in July Tunis and the European Union signed a pact aimed at stemming migrant flows.

An Italian foreign ministry spokesman had no immediate comment when asked why the deal, which pledged 1 billion euros ($1.07 billion) of EU money to help Tunisia's battered economy, was failing to produce results on migration.

Since the start of the year, almost 124,000 sea migrants have landed on Italian shores, almost double the number recorded in the same period in 2022.

The German government said on Wednesday it had suspended an agreement with Italy to voluntarily take in refugees, accusing Rome of failing to honour its side of the bargain.

(Reuters)

 

Italy: What is the government's response to the uptick in migrant arrivals and its consequences?


Issued on: 14/09/2023 - 
03:51

© France 24
Video by: Seema GUPTA

A flotilla of flimsy boats, crowded with migrants and launched from Tunisia, overwhelmed a tiny southern Italian island on Wednesday, taxing the coast guard's capability to intercept the smugglers' vessels and testing Premier Giorgia Meloni's pledge to thwart irregular migration. FRANCE 24's correspondent in Rome Seema Gupta tells us more.

Italy migrant crisis: Nearly 7,000 migrants arrive in just over 24 hours

Issued on: 14/09/2023 
02:00
Video by: James VASINA

In the space of 24 hours on Wednesday, nearly 7000 migrants arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. That's about double the number from the same time last year. The recent arrivals have overwhelmed the small island. They are also testing the promise made by Italy's far-right prime minister Giorgia Meloni to curb illegal immigration. FRANCE 24's James Vasina has the story.

Europe migration: Why are so many migrants arriving in Lampedusa at once?


Issued on: 14/09/2023 
03:42

© France 24
Video by :Philip TURLE

The small Italian island of Lampedusa is being overwhelmed by the numbers of migrants arriving on its shores after thousands of people landed from North Africa on boats over the past two days, its mayor said on Thursday. FRANCE 24's International Affairs Editor Philip Turle tells us more.

Maersk unveils world's first bio-methanol container ship

Copenhagen (AFP) – European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday christened the world's first bio-methanol container ship, Laura, which joined the fleet of Danish shipping giant Maersk.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presses a button during the name giving ceremony © Sergei GAPON / AFP

Issued on: 14/09/2023 - 

Built in South Korea by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and fitted with a dual-fuel engine, Laura is a relatively small model that will be able to transport 2,136 20-foot (TEU) containers.

It will begin operating in the Baltic Sea in October, Maersk said.

"Green methanol is our fuel of choice ... because it is the only scalable solution that can meet the net-zero (carbon emissions) requirements," Maersk chief executive Vincent Clerc said during Thursday's inauguration ceremony in Copenhagen's harbour.

"Neither we nor the climate can afford complacency or waiting for other solutions to emerge in the late 2020s," he added.

In line with tradition for christening vessels, von der Leyen then swung a bottle of champagne across the ship's hull.

Green methanol, also known as "e-methanol", is composed of waste carbon dioxide (CO2) and "green hydrogen", which is created by using renewable energy to split water molecules.

Over the past two years, Maersk, the world leader in container shipping, has ordered 25 vessels that run on green methanol.

Of them, 19 are under construction and should set sail by 2025.

The company estimates this will enable it to reduce its annual carbon dioxide emissions by around 2.3 million tonnes.

Laura alone will help reduce its CO2 emissions by 100 tonnes a day, compared to the same vessel running on fuel oil, it said.

On a global scale, maritime transport is more polluting than air transport, according to the Higher Institute of Maritime Economics (ISEMAR).

The sector accounts for 2.89 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to the latest figures published by the International Maritime Organisation.

Maersk, which sold its oil division to TotalEnergies in 2017, aims to become carbon neutral by 2040.

Spain women's league players call off strike after pay deal

Barcelona (AFP) – Footballers from Spain's women's top flight, Liga F, have called off a strike which postponed the first week of fixtures after an agreement over wages was reached, unions and the league said Thursday.

Spain's victory in the World Cup has been followed by controversy over the football federation's leaders and money, as players in the country's women's league went on a pay strike 

© Izhar KHAN / AFP

"Liga F and the unions have reached an agreement regarding the minimum wage that allows the strike to be called off," said Liga F in a statement.

Five unions, including AFE and Futpro, called a strike covering the first two rounds of fixtures last week.

"The deal is in regard to the minimum wage, the main cause of the strike -- accepted by the players as an act of responsibility to the fans of the sport," said the unions in a statement.

Liga F has agreed to raise the minimum wage from 16,000 euros ($17,000) a year to 21,000 euros ($22,500) in the current season, rising to 23,500 euros ($25,500) by the 2025-26 campaign.

Players were asking for a minimum wage starting at 23,000 euros from this season onwards.

However despite the strike being called off, the unions said there were various other issues on which agreements have not been reached after a year of negotiations.

"This step is the beginning and only a part of the agreement -- now it is time to work to move forward on important points such as maternity, harassment protocol (and other aspects)," the unions added.

Matches will now take place this weekend after the games on September 8-10 were not played.

Last season a refereeing strike disrupted the first week of Liga F matches.

Eventually, the league agreed to pay referees higher match fees, while the Spanish government said they would contribute to a refereeing retirement fund.

Spanish women's football has been in the spotlight after La Roja won the World Cup in August, but the victory was tainted by an incident involving former federation president Luis Rubiales at the medal ceremony after the game.

Rubiales, 46, sparked worldwide outrage when he forcibly kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips.

The chief has since resigned and is set to appear in court on Friday after a Spanish judge opened an investigation into the incident.

Currently, 81 Spain players are striking against the women's national team, until the leadership of the federation changes. Rubiales has resigned and controversial women's coach Jorge Vilda was sacked.


Issued on: 14/09/2023
© 2023 AFP

Man Utd sign Women's World Cup winner Guerrero

London (AFP) – Manchester United announced the signing of Spanish World Cup winner Irene Guerrero from Atletico Madrid on Thursday as the Red Devils target a first-ever Women's Super League title.

Spain midfielder Irene Guerrero has joined Manchester United 

© Saeed KHAN / AFP/File

Issued on: 14/09/2023 - 

The 26-year-old midfielder is United's sixth signing since they finished second in the WSL and lost the FA Cup final to Chelsea last season.

Guerrero was a member of the Spain squad that beat England 1-0 in the World Cup final in Sydney last month.

"I feel very happy and very privileged to be here," Guerrero said.

"I am very proud to be part of the Manchester United family and look forward to achieving all our goals together."

United boss Marc Skinner said: "Irene is a World Cup winner whose quality is an excellent addition to our team.

"The experience she brings, both domestically and internationally, will be key as we pursue success across the multiple competitions, we face this season."

Skinner has overhauled his squad, bringing in the World Cup's top scorer, Japan's Hinata Miyazawa, Gemma Evans, Geyse, Emma Watson and Evie Rabjohn.

But United lost England striker Alessia Russo to rivals Arsenal on a free transfer and face a battle to hold on to star goalkeeper Mary Earps.

One of the heros of the Lionesses run to the World Cup final, Earps won the Golden Glove for being the best 'keeper at the tournament.

Arsenal have also been linked with Earps, who has one year left on her contract at United.

THIS SHOULD BE ROTE NOT NEWS
Japanese PM Fumio Kishida names record-tying 5 women to cabinet in reshuffling

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida delivers a speech at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on August 15. He announced a reshuffling of his cabinet on Wednesday. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo

Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday naming five women ministers, tying a record number of women ministers in a Japanese governing cabinet.

Kishida, the leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party selected of total of 11 new leaders in his 19-minister cabinet, with those keeping their positions including Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura.

One of the holdover female ministers, Yoko Kamikawa was moved from justice minister to high-profile foreign minister.

A new member of the cabinet, lower house member Ayuko Kato, will serve as minister in charge of child policies and the three other women named to the cabinet included Sanae Takaichi, who was retained as economic security minister, Hanako Jimi as rural revitalization minister and Shinako Tsuchiya as construction minister.

Toshimitsu Motegi, seen as Kishida's top party rival, retained his spot as the LDP secretary-general. Motegi deflected talk about replacing Kishida after keeping his post.

"We have a mountain of domestic and international issues to deal with, and we must address them," he told reporters. "For this purpose, I would like to support the Kishida administration. That is all I can say."

The party hopes the reshuffling will end poll slides that saw Kishida's popularity tumble over inflation and a controversial national identification card system.

The term of the current lower House is not scheduled to end until October 2025, but it is expected that Kishida may dissolve the body ahead of time and call for snap elections if his poll numbers improve.