Ohio resident admits to hiding war crime charges when he immigrated from Croatia
Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A Parma Heights, Ohio, resident will serve three years in prison for concealing a war crime charge against him in Croatia prior to immigrating to the United States.
Jugoslav Vidic was sentenced after entering a guilty plea in the U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio as part of a plea agreement that includes removal from the United States after serving three years in a federal prison.
"Vidic lied about war crimes charged against him in an attempt to escape his past and live in the United States unlawfully," Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri said Wednesday in a news release.
"Vidic will serve prison time in the United States followed by his removal," Argentieri said. "His sentence demonstrates that human rights violators will not be allowed to hide from their crimes in the United States."
Vidic, 56, falsely claimed he never was charged for breaking any laws when he applied for lawful permanent residency in the United States and pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an alien registration receipt card by knowingly making false statements.
In his plea agreement, Vidic admitted he was charged with a war crime in Croatia in 1994 and was convicted in absentia in 1998.
A Croatian court determined Vidic cut off the arm of civilian Stjepan Komes when Vidic and other ethnic Serb forces attacked Petrinja, Croatia, on Sept. 16, 1991. Komes died from his injury.
Vidic also admitted he was aware of the Croatian charges against him when he immigrated as a refugee to the United States in 1999.
He applied to a green card in 2000, was interviewed by U.S. immigration officials and obtained his green card in 2005.
Vidic lied when he claimed he only served in the Yugoslav Army from 1988 to 1989 and concealed his service in the Serb Army of Krajina and its predecessors during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995, federal prosecutors said.
"Vidic committed serious human rights violations and was convicted of war crimes in Croatia as a result," U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lutzko said. "Yet, he lied to U.S. immigration officials about his conviction and participation in a violent military force to claim refugee status and obtain a green card."
Agents with the FBI's International Human Rights Unit and Homeland Security Investigations investigated Vidic and received help from Croatia's Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Justice and Public Administration.
Friday, October 18, 2024
British regulator warns tech companies of possible significant fines under online safety law
Oct. 17, 2024
Britain's Ofcom warned tech companies that starting in December they could face significant fines if they fail to comply with a new online safety law. File Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA-EFE
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- In a progress update Thursday Britain's independent communications regulator Ofcom warned tech companies that starting in December they could face enforcement action, including significant fines, as new online safety laws take effect.
"The time for talk is over," Ofcom Chief Executive Melanie Dawes said in a statement. "From December, tech firms will be legally required to start taking action, meaning 2025 will be a pivotal year in creating a safer life online."
Ofcom said Thursday the new law empowers enforcement actions "including imposing significant fines where appropriate."
"We are prepared to take strong action if tech firms fail to put in place the measures that will be most impactful in protecting users, especially children, from serious harms such as those relating to child sexual abuse, pornography and fraud," Ofcom said in its Thursday statement.
For the most serious cases Ofcom can go to court to block access to a service throughout the United Kingdom.
The Online Safety Act passed into law in 2023 creates new legal duties tech companies must abide by.
Tech firms will have three months to complete illegal harms assessments on their online platforms starting in December.
The new law seeks to improve online safety.
In 2025, Ofcom said, key milestones will "finalize children's access assessment guidance and guidance for pornography providers on age assurance."
By March 2025 platforms must finish their illegal harms assessments and put appropriate safety measures in place.
Ofcom said Meta and Snapchat have made changes Ofcom proposed to "help prevent children being contacted by strangers" and "to limit who can contact teens and what they can see."
"We've already engaged constructively with some platforms and seen positive changes ahead of time, but our expectations are going to be high, and we'll be coming down hard on those who fall short," Dawes' Thursday statement said.
The Online Safety Act provides more user tools to control what they see online, adds protections for news publisher and journalistic content and will attempt to prevent fraudulent advertising.
The law requires tech companies to produce transparency reports and to "consistently applying their terms of service."
Lawmakers passed the Online Safety Bill in September 2023, mandating that tech companies evaluate the potential of users encountering illegal content and children being exposed to online harm.
Oct. 17, 2024
Britain's Ofcom warned tech companies that starting in December they could face significant fines if they fail to comply with a new online safety law. File Photo by Wael Hamzeh/EPA-EFE
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- In a progress update Thursday Britain's independent communications regulator Ofcom warned tech companies that starting in December they could face enforcement action, including significant fines, as new online safety laws take effect.
"The time for talk is over," Ofcom Chief Executive Melanie Dawes said in a statement. "From December, tech firms will be legally required to start taking action, meaning 2025 will be a pivotal year in creating a safer life online."
Ofcom said Thursday the new law empowers enforcement actions "including imposing significant fines where appropriate."
"We are prepared to take strong action if tech firms fail to put in place the measures that will be most impactful in protecting users, especially children, from serious harms such as those relating to child sexual abuse, pornography and fraud," Ofcom said in its Thursday statement.
For the most serious cases Ofcom can go to court to block access to a service throughout the United Kingdom.
The Online Safety Act passed into law in 2023 creates new legal duties tech companies must abide by.
Tech firms will have three months to complete illegal harms assessments on their online platforms starting in December.
The new law seeks to improve online safety.
In 2025, Ofcom said, key milestones will "finalize children's access assessment guidance and guidance for pornography providers on age assurance."
By March 2025 platforms must finish their illegal harms assessments and put appropriate safety measures in place.
Ofcom said Meta and Snapchat have made changes Ofcom proposed to "help prevent children being contacted by strangers" and "to limit who can contact teens and what they can see."
"We've already engaged constructively with some platforms and seen positive changes ahead of time, but our expectations are going to be high, and we'll be coming down hard on those who fall short," Dawes' Thursday statement said.
The Online Safety Act provides more user tools to control what they see online, adds protections for news publisher and journalistic content and will attempt to prevent fraudulent advertising.
The law requires tech companies to produce transparency reports and to "consistently applying their terms of service."
Lawmakers passed the Online Safety Bill in September 2023, mandating that tech companies evaluate the potential of users encountering illegal content and children being exposed to online harm.
Mysterious white blobs washing up on Newfoundland beaches
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Environmental authorities in Canada are trying to solve the mystery of unidentified white blobs that have been washing up on Newfoundland beaches.
The white masses, which range in size from a coin to a dinner plate, started showing up on area beaches in September, and locals shared photos of the unidentified objects in the Beachcombers of Newfoundland and Labrador Facebook group.
Some suggested the blobs could be ambergris or another fluid originating from a whale, but opinions are split.
Environment and Climate Change Canada officials said to CBS News the "mystery substance" is under investigation.
"An answer would be nice. It's not often you find something that stumps people who know this place and these waters," resident Dave McGrath told The Guardian.
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Environmental authorities in Canada are trying to solve the mystery of unidentified white blobs that have been washing up on Newfoundland beaches.
The white masses, which range in size from a coin to a dinner plate, started showing up on area beaches in September, and locals shared photos of the unidentified objects in the Beachcombers of Newfoundland and Labrador Facebook group.
Some suggested the blobs could be ambergris or another fluid originating from a whale, but opinions are split.
Environment and Climate Change Canada officials said to CBS News the "mystery substance" is under investigation.
"An answer would be nice. It's not often you find something that stumps people who know this place and these waters," resident Dave McGrath told The Guardian.
Youth tobacco use reaches 25-year low, CDC says
By Mike Heuer
Oct. 17, 2024
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Thursday announced tobacco use among the nation's youth has reached a 25-year low. File Photo by Theo0221/Wikimedia Commons
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- About 2.25 million U.S. middle- and high-school students this year say they use tobacco products, which is 500,000 fewer than a year ago, the Centers for Disease Control said Thursday.
The current number of youth who use tobacco products is the lowest number in 25 years and down from 2.8 million in 2023, according to the CDC.
"Reaching a 25-year low for youth tobacco product use is an extraordinary milestone for public health," CDC Office on Smoking and Health Director Deirdre Lawrence Kittner said Thursday in a press release. "We must remain committed to public health efforts to ensure all youth can live healthy, tobacco-free lives."
The CDC determined the current number of youth smokers in its 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey and attributes the decline in tobacco use to students lowering their use of e-cigarettes.
About 2.13 million youth in 2023 said they used e-cigarettes versus 1.63 million this year, the survey indicates.
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, with 5.9% of smokers saying they use them versus 1.4% using cigarettes and 1.2% cigars.
Another 1.2% said they use smokeless tobacco and an equal percentage said they use other oral nicotine products.
Heated tobacco products accounted for 0.8% of youth tobacco use, followed by hookahs, 0.7%, and pipe tobacco, 0.5%.
Cigarette smoking among youth reached the lowest level ever recorded by the survey, which shows only 1.4% of students said they used cigarettes.
Also down is the number of youth hookah users, which recorded a drop of 100,000 from 290,000 in 2023 to 190,000 this year.
The CDC said many factors likely caused the reduction in tobacco use among youth, including evidence-based strategies used at the national, state and local levels.
Such strategies include price increases for tobacco products and mass media campaigns that educate youth on the dangers of using tobacco.
The Food and Drug Administration also continues regulating tobacco product sales and thoroughly reviews and enforces compliance among manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of tobacco products.
By Mike Heuer
Oct. 17, 2024
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Thursday announced tobacco use among the nation's youth has reached a 25-year low. File Photo by Theo0221/Wikimedia Commons
Oct. 17 (UPI) -- About 2.25 million U.S. middle- and high-school students this year say they use tobacco products, which is 500,000 fewer than a year ago, the Centers for Disease Control said Thursday.
The current number of youth who use tobacco products is the lowest number in 25 years and down from 2.8 million in 2023, according to the CDC.
"Reaching a 25-year low for youth tobacco product use is an extraordinary milestone for public health," CDC Office on Smoking and Health Director Deirdre Lawrence Kittner said Thursday in a press release. "We must remain committed to public health efforts to ensure all youth can live healthy, tobacco-free lives."
The CDC determined the current number of youth smokers in its 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey and attributes the decline in tobacco use to students lowering their use of e-cigarettes.
About 2.13 million youth in 2023 said they used e-cigarettes versus 1.63 million this year, the survey indicates.
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, with 5.9% of smokers saying they use them versus 1.4% using cigarettes and 1.2% cigars.
Another 1.2% said they use smokeless tobacco and an equal percentage said they use other oral nicotine products.
Heated tobacco products accounted for 0.8% of youth tobacco use, followed by hookahs, 0.7%, and pipe tobacco, 0.5%.
Cigarette smoking among youth reached the lowest level ever recorded by the survey, which shows only 1.4% of students said they used cigarettes.
Also down is the number of youth hookah users, which recorded a drop of 100,000 from 290,000 in 2023 to 190,000 this year.
The CDC said many factors likely caused the reduction in tobacco use among youth, including evidence-based strategies used at the national, state and local levels.
Such strategies include price increases for tobacco products and mass media campaigns that educate youth on the dangers of using tobacco.
The Food and Drug Administration also continues regulating tobacco product sales and thoroughly reviews and enforces compliance among manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers of tobacco products.
Biden administration protects thousands of Lebanese from deportation amid war
The Biden administration on Thursday moved to shield thousands of Lebanese in the United States from deportation as their country is being attacked by Israel.
The Biden administration on Thursday moved to shield thousands of Lebanese in the United States from deportation as their country is being attacked by Israel.
File photo by Fadel Itani/ UPI | License Photo
Oct. 18, 2024
Oct. 18 (UPI) -- The Biden administration has announced it is granting protection from deportation to Lebanese nationals amid Israel's ongoing assault on Hezbollah in the Middle Eastern country.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Thursday that Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has designated Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status, shielding Lebanese nationals presently in the country from deportation for 18 months while permitting them to apply for work permits.
A country receives TPS designation due to being besieged by armed conflict, environmental disaster or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. It is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status but allows citizens of the designated country to reside in the United States without fear of being deported to the strife-ridden nation.
Lebanon was granted the designation as it has come under a brutal assault by Israel as it targets Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Israel and Hamas, another Iran-proxy militia, have been at war since Oct. 7, 2023, during which an emboldened Hezbollah has attacked Israel over the Lebanese border.
Israel has responded with attacks of its own, and the two have been trading cross-border strikes for over a year now, but Israel's assaults have intensified since Sept. 23. Since then, the United States, as well as other democratic nations, have been seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict amid fears of the war spreading.
In late July, President Joe Biden issued a memorandum of Deferred Enforced Departure that similarly protects eligible Lebanese nationals in the United States from deportation for 18 months.
At least 2,412 people have been killed in the fighting, the majority since Sept. 23, according to the Lebanese ministry of health.
The Department of Homeland Security states that some 11,000 Lebanese nationals in the United States will be protected under DED and TPS.
The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee said it "welcomed" the TPS designation of Lebanon as a reprieve for thousands of Lebanese nationals who are in the United States because of the war in the Middle East.
"The expansion of Israel's genocide into Lebanon has already led to thousands of deaths, and a humanitarian crisis that is impacting millions of Lebanese residents. Ensuring that Lebanese nationals in the U.S. are not forced back into harm's way is an important step," ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said in a statement, while criticizing the United States over its continued supply of weapons to Israel.
"The most important action the Biden-Harris Administration can immediately take is an immediate arms embargo on Israel, and implementation of an immediate ceasefire," Ayoub said.
Oct. 18, 2024
Oct. 18 (UPI) -- The Biden administration has announced it is granting protection from deportation to Lebanese nationals amid Israel's ongoing assault on Hezbollah in the Middle Eastern country.
The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Thursday that Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has designated Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status, shielding Lebanese nationals presently in the country from deportation for 18 months while permitting them to apply for work permits.
A country receives TPS designation due to being besieged by armed conflict, environmental disaster or other extraordinary and temporary conditions. It is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent resident status but allows citizens of the designated country to reside in the United States without fear of being deported to the strife-ridden nation.
Lebanon was granted the designation as it has come under a brutal assault by Israel as it targets Iran-backed Hezbollah.
Israel and Hamas, another Iran-proxy militia, have been at war since Oct. 7, 2023, during which an emboldened Hezbollah has attacked Israel over the Lebanese border.
Israel has responded with attacks of its own, and the two have been trading cross-border strikes for over a year now, but Israel's assaults have intensified since Sept. 23. Since then, the United States, as well as other democratic nations, have been seeking a diplomatic solution to the conflict amid fears of the war spreading.
In late July, President Joe Biden issued a memorandum of Deferred Enforced Departure that similarly protects eligible Lebanese nationals in the United States from deportation for 18 months.
At least 2,412 people have been killed in the fighting, the majority since Sept. 23, according to the Lebanese ministry of health.
The Department of Homeland Security states that some 11,000 Lebanese nationals in the United States will be protected under DED and TPS.
The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee said it "welcomed" the TPS designation of Lebanon as a reprieve for thousands of Lebanese nationals who are in the United States because of the war in the Middle East.
"The expansion of Israel's genocide into Lebanon has already led to thousands of deaths, and a humanitarian crisis that is impacting millions of Lebanese residents. Ensuring that Lebanese nationals in the U.S. are not forced back into harm's way is an important step," ADC National Executive Director Abed Ayoub said in a statement, while criticizing the United States over its continued supply of weapons to Israel.
"The most important action the Biden-Harris Administration can immediately take is an immediate arms embargo on Israel, and implementation of an immediate ceasefire," Ayoub said.
Study: PFAS 'forever chemicals' common in tap, bottled water globally
By Dennis Thompson, HealthDay News
Oct. 18, 2024 /
PFAS "forever chemicals" can be found in drinking water around the world, whether it comes from a tap or a bottle, a new study warns. Photo by Adobe Stock/HealthDay News
PFAS "forever chemicals" can be found in drinking water around the world, whether it comes from a tap or a bottle, a new study warns.
Ten specific PFAS chemicals were found in samples of bottled and tap water sourced from 15 countries around the world, researchers report.
For example, the chemicals PFOA and PFOS were detected in more than 99% of bottled water samples tested.
However, researchers also found that boiling water or running it through a carbon filter can substantially reduce PFAS levels in drinking water, lowering them from 50% to 90%.
"Our findings highlight the widespread presence of PFAS in drinking water and the effectiveness of simple treatment methods to reduce their levels," said researcher Stuart Harrad, a professor of environmental chemistry with the University of Birmingham. "Either using a simple water filtration jug or boiling the water removes a substantial proportion of these substances."
For the study, researchers tested 112 bottled water samples from shops and online stores in Britain and China.
The samples covered 87 brands, with water sources originating from 15 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, researchers said.
Overall, PFAS chemicals were detected in 63% of bottled waters. There was no significant difference in PFAS levels between waters in glass or plastic containers, or between still and sparkling bottled waters, researchers said.
They also tested 41 tap water samples from Britain and China, and found that Chinese tap water tended to have higher PFAS concentrations than British water.
PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a category of manufactured chemicals that have become an emerging concern to environmental and human health.
PFAS are called "forever chemicals" because they combine carbon and fluorine molecules, one of the strongest chemical bonds possible.
This makes PFAS removal and breakdown very difficult. PFAS compounds have been used in consumer products since the 1940s, including fire extinguishing foam, nonstick cookware and food wrappers, researchers said.
Some of the health concerns linked to PFAS include lowered immune response to vaccination, impaired liver function, decreased birth weight, and increased risk of some cancers, researchers noted.
"Increased awareness about the presence of PFAS in both tap and bottled water can lead to more informed choices by consumers, encouraging the use of water purification methods," said researcher Yi Zheng, associate dean of environmental science and engineering with the Southern University of Science and Technology in China.
The new study was published Thursday in the journal ACS ES&T Water.
More information
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has more about PFAS.
'Smalltown Boy': Bronski Beat's gay anthem strikes chord 40 years on
Forty years after its 1984 release, Bronski Beat's new wave hit "Smalltown Boy" has transcended generations to become an LGBTQ anthem for young and old alike.
Issued on: 17/10/2024 -
Charismatic Scottish frontman Jimmy Somerville, later of The Communards, and his plaintive countertenor voice did the rest.
Bronski Beat's label London Records knew they had a surefire hit on their hands as soon as they turned to the UK capital's iconic LGBTQ club Heaven, famous for its long-running G-A-Y night, to promote the single.
"Suddenly, as we were playing the record, you could see the dance floor get quieter, you know, as people were actually listening to the words," the label's former chief Colin Bell told AFP.
"And then the DJ did something, which he says to this day that he's never done before: he played the record and then he played it again, straight after," Bell added.
"And that was the moment we knew it was something special."
Compromise and obscenity
But to launch the nascent band to stardom, London Records had to walk on eggshells to make sure the hit could air on radio and its iconic music video pass on television.
Forty years after its 1984 release, Bronski Beat's new wave hit "Smalltown Boy" has transcended generations to become an LGBTQ anthem for young and old alike.
Issued on: 17/10/2024 -
Bronski Beat's label London Records knew they had a surefire hit on their hands as soon as they turned to the UK capital's iconic LGBTQ club Heaven. © Henry Nicholls, AFP/File
Narrowly spared the censor's axe in a Britain where being gay was only partially decriminalised, its tale of coming out and fleeing home has found a new lease of life with a younger audience on social media platforms including TikTok.
Released on the band's debut album "The Age of Consent", its synth and echoed drum-driven groove rode the wave of popularity with a public increasingly hungry for the "Hi-NRG" electronic disco trend.
Narrowly spared the censor's axe in a Britain where being gay was only partially decriminalised, its tale of coming out and fleeing home has found a new lease of life with a younger audience on social media platforms including TikTok.
Released on the band's debut album "The Age of Consent", its synth and echoed drum-driven groove rode the wave of popularity with a public increasingly hungry for the "Hi-NRG" electronic disco trend.
Charismatic Scottish frontman Jimmy Somerville, later of The Communards, and his plaintive countertenor voice did the rest.
Bronski Beat's label London Records knew they had a surefire hit on their hands as soon as they turned to the UK capital's iconic LGBTQ club Heaven, famous for its long-running G-A-Y night, to promote the single.
"Suddenly, as we were playing the record, you could see the dance floor get quieter, you know, as people were actually listening to the words," the label's former chief Colin Bell told AFP.
"And then the DJ did something, which he says to this day that he's never done before: he played the record and then he played it again, straight after," Bell added.
"And that was the moment we knew it was something special."
Compromise and obscenity
But to launch the nascent band to stardom, London Records had to walk on eggshells to make sure the hit could air on radio and its iconic music video pass on television.
Over the song's insistent upbeat tempo, Jimmy Somerville weaves a mournful tale of a boy who has to escape the clutches of parenthood to assert his own identity. © Pierre Verdy, AFP/File
Same-sex relations were in part decriminalised in England and Wales by the Sexual Offences Act 1967 -- later extended to Scotland in 1980 and Northern Ireland in 1982.
But the age of consent -- which gave Bronski Beat's debut album its title -- remained 21 years old for gay lovers, compared to 16 years for their heterosexual counterparts.
And the same year "Smalltown Boy" came out, Frankie Goes to Hollywood saw their own gay club banger "Relax" banned from the BBC's airwaves on the grounds it was deemed obscene.
But convincing Bronski Beat to compromise proved easier said than done.
"We would ask them to moderate some of the things that they had to do in order to get the records on the radio or on the TV," Bell said.
"There was some tension in the creative relationship we had," but "we compromised, we softened it and successfully," he added.
Over the song's insistent upbeat tempo, Somerville weaves a mournful tale of a boy who has to escape the clutches of parenthood to assert his own identity, however painful that may be: "Run away, turn away," is the refrain.
Yet the ex-label head underlined that its lyrics and accompanying music video are open to other, more varied interpretations.
"It didn't stand just for a gay boy being beaten up and taken back to his parents," Bell said.
"That could be a woman, that could be a girl, that could be anybody."
'Transcends all divides'
With 122 million views on YouTube, "Smalltown Boy" is experiencing a resurgence in popularity on social media.
On TikTok, the song has trended as the focus of a challenge where users play the 1984 hit and ask their parents to dance like it is the 80s again.
Patrick Thevenin, a journalist of LGBTQ music and culture, said he was "quite astonished by the support for 'Smalltown Boy', whether gay or straight, by all generations".
"It's a classic of gay emancipation and coming out, but its strength lies in the fact that it transcends all divides of gender and sexuality."
The record has "long since transcended the gay sphere", Thevenin said.
Even if homophobic attacks and LGBTQ acts persist today, the journalist said he took that as proof that "society is progressing".
In 2017, a remix of "Smalltown Boy" by Arnaud Rebotini brought the song to a new generation in France after it was included on the soundtrack for Robin Campillo's film "120 Battements par minute" about AIDS activism, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes.
Three events are planned in London on Saturday to celebrate the album's 40th anniversary, with marches and concerts by LGBTQ artists at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Somerville, long a recluse from the media spotlight, is not expected to attend.
(AFP)
Same-sex relations were in part decriminalised in England and Wales by the Sexual Offences Act 1967 -- later extended to Scotland in 1980 and Northern Ireland in 1982.
But the age of consent -- which gave Bronski Beat's debut album its title -- remained 21 years old for gay lovers, compared to 16 years for their heterosexual counterparts.
And the same year "Smalltown Boy" came out, Frankie Goes to Hollywood saw their own gay club banger "Relax" banned from the BBC's airwaves on the grounds it was deemed obscene.
But convincing Bronski Beat to compromise proved easier said than done.
"We would ask them to moderate some of the things that they had to do in order to get the records on the radio or on the TV," Bell said.
"There was some tension in the creative relationship we had," but "we compromised, we softened it and successfully," he added.
Over the song's insistent upbeat tempo, Somerville weaves a mournful tale of a boy who has to escape the clutches of parenthood to assert his own identity, however painful that may be: "Run away, turn away," is the refrain.
Yet the ex-label head underlined that its lyrics and accompanying music video are open to other, more varied interpretations.
"It didn't stand just for a gay boy being beaten up and taken back to his parents," Bell said.
"That could be a woman, that could be a girl, that could be anybody."
'Transcends all divides'
With 122 million views on YouTube, "Smalltown Boy" is experiencing a resurgence in popularity on social media.
On TikTok, the song has trended as the focus of a challenge where users play the 1984 hit and ask their parents to dance like it is the 80s again.
Patrick Thevenin, a journalist of LGBTQ music and culture, said he was "quite astonished by the support for 'Smalltown Boy', whether gay or straight, by all generations".
"It's a classic of gay emancipation and coming out, but its strength lies in the fact that it transcends all divides of gender and sexuality."
The record has "long since transcended the gay sphere", Thevenin said.
Even if homophobic attacks and LGBTQ acts persist today, the journalist said he took that as proof that "society is progressing".
In 2017, a remix of "Smalltown Boy" by Arnaud Rebotini brought the song to a new generation in France after it was included on the soundtrack for Robin Campillo's film "120 Battements par minute" about AIDS activism, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes.
Three events are planned in London on Saturday to celebrate the album's 40th anniversary, with marches and concerts by LGBTQ artists at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Somerville, long a recluse from the media spotlight, is not expected to attend.
(AFP)
British Pakistanis increasingly reject cousin marriage
Shahid Arsalan in Bradford
Shahid Arsalan in Bradford
DW
October 17, 2024
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of cousin marriage globally. But the practice is falling out of favor among the UK's Pakistani community.
Many Britons of Pakistani heritage reject the idea of marrying within the family, but the practice persists
When British-Kashmiri Shagufta Rashid migrated to the UK from Pakistan in 1990, she was already a married woman with a stable home life. Her husband was also her cousin, but in her culture, especially at the time, it was considered normal.
The couple had five children and things were going well.
"All of my kids were very intelligent and beautiful," she told DW. The first sign of trouble, however, came with one of her daughters complaining of poor eyesight.
"We were preparing to celebrate the 18th birthday of this daughter when she complained about seeing problems," Rashid said.
Soon, the daughter's vision got worse and she could no longer see anything.
Pakistan has one of the highest rates of cousin marriage globally. But the practice is falling out of favor among the UK's Pakistani community.
Many Britons of Pakistani heritage reject the idea of marrying within the family, but the practice persists
Image: Shahid Arsalan/DW
When British-Kashmiri Shagufta Rashid migrated to the UK from Pakistan in 1990, she was already a married woman with a stable home life. Her husband was also her cousin, but in her culture, especially at the time, it was considered normal.
The couple had five children and things were going well.
"All of my kids were very intelligent and beautiful," she told DW. The first sign of trouble, however, came with one of her daughters complaining of poor eyesight.
"We were preparing to celebrate the 18th birthday of this daughter when she complained about seeing problems," Rashid said.
Soon, the daughter's vision got worse and she could no longer see anything.
Shagufta Rashid says cousin marriages were very common among British Pakistanis in the pastImage: Shahid Arsalan/DW
"I felt completely shattered and devastated," Rashid said. Then, doctors warned that the daughter "might go blind permanently" for suffering from an illness that usually shows up in elderly people.
Whispers from neighbors
Still, the daughter managed to get two essential surgeries — one at the age of 18 and another at 21 — and avoid blindness.
"She still cannot see without her glasses, but she is much better now and leading a married life in Dubai," Rashid said.
But when her neighbors in the UK heard about the trouble affecting her child, they started speculating that the illness was due to Rashid being married to her cousin — and her child was a product of a consanguineous marriage.
Rashid's sister Sabiha Hasan said other family members also dealt with the stigma. Hasan's son is married to his cousin, and one of his children is autistic, while another family member in a consanguineous marriage had two obese children. Even with children eventually losing the excessive weight, the family heard whispers about the children's health troubles being due to their parents being closely related.
"I felt completely shattered and devastated," Rashid said. Then, doctors warned that the daughter "might go blind permanently" for suffering from an illness that usually shows up in elderly people.
Whispers from neighbors
Still, the daughter managed to get two essential surgeries — one at the age of 18 and another at 21 — and avoid blindness.
"She still cannot see without her glasses, but she is much better now and leading a married life in Dubai," Rashid said.
But when her neighbors in the UK heard about the trouble affecting her child, they started speculating that the illness was due to Rashid being married to her cousin — and her child was a product of a consanguineous marriage.
Rashid's sister Sabiha Hasan said other family members also dealt with the stigma. Hasan's son is married to his cousin, and one of his children is autistic, while another family member in a consanguineous marriage had two obese children. Even with children eventually losing the excessive weight, the family heard whispers about the children's health troubles being due to their parents being closely related.
Sahiba Hasan says many women have healthy children even with people they are related toImage: Shahid Arsalan/DW
Hasan acknowledges it could be a factor, but she doesn't see it as a deciding one because "there are many women married to cousins in our area and having a normal life."
Deadly risk of genetic defects
However, medical facts indicate that the risk cannot be so easily dismissed. A briefing published by the Born in Bradford research program, looking at child deaths in Bradford, Birmingham and the London borough of Redbridge, found that "20-40% of child deaths may be due to genetic disorders associated with consanguinity and chromosomal conditions."
Dr Shabi Ahmed from Birmingham City Hospital also warns that consanguinity carries a serious risk of genetic issues.
"And such problems are not among British Pakistanis and Kashmiris only but they are also found among the Arabs and other communities where such marriages are common," Ahmed told DW.
Intrafamily marriage rates diminishing in Britain
Consanguineous marriage is defined as a union in which the male-female couple are related as second cousins or closer. The practice is socially embedded in many regions of the world, including South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. It is estimated that globally around 10-15% of newborns have consanguineous parents.
While the practice persists among the British Pakistanis, it appears to be on decline. Studying 13,500 families between 2007 and 2011, the Born in Bradford project found 60% of couples of Pakistani heritage were related by blood (first cousin, second cousin or other blood relative). But if both parents of Pakistani origin had been born in the UK, this fell to 30%.
A follow-up study between 2016 and 2020 found a sharp decline in consanguinity in the Pakistani community — from 60% to 40% overall.
Even so, it is still dramatically higher than the rates of intrafamily marriage among white Britons, where available data shows that less than 1% are married to their first cousin.
Young people more informed due to social media
Both Hasan and Rashid confirm the practice of marrying family members is becoming less common. They believe this is partly due to modern technology.
"British-born kids are more aware about health issues because they are on social media all the time that discuss everything, including health," Rashid says.
Rashid also believes that family quarrels that often follow marriage are also pushing people away from marrying their cousins.
A British Punjabi of Pakistani origin, who now lives close to Bradford, says youth should be allowed to choose their partners on their own.
"My own son refused to marry his cousin despite all family pressure but I supported him unlike other family members," he told DW on condition of anonymity. "We need to recognize that such marriages pose medical issues and must be discouraged."
Religion, obedience push youth towards consanguineous marriage
Bradford-based activist Beenash Faris admits that by and large consanguineous marriages are declining. But she also points out an interesting trend — the practice is resurfacing, albeit on a limited scale, among religious-minded young people.
"Religion lays a lot of emphasis on the respect and obedience of parents. So, I have seen some religious-minded young guys accepting their parents' advice on marriage matters or in some matters showing willingness to marry their cousins," she told DW.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Hasan acknowledges it could be a factor, but she doesn't see it as a deciding one because "there are many women married to cousins in our area and having a normal life."
Deadly risk of genetic defects
However, medical facts indicate that the risk cannot be so easily dismissed. A briefing published by the Born in Bradford research program, looking at child deaths in Bradford, Birmingham and the London borough of Redbridge, found that "20-40% of child deaths may be due to genetic disorders associated with consanguinity and chromosomal conditions."
Dr Shabi Ahmed from Birmingham City Hospital also warns that consanguinity carries a serious risk of genetic issues.
"And such problems are not among British Pakistanis and Kashmiris only but they are also found among the Arabs and other communities where such marriages are common," Ahmed told DW.
Intrafamily marriage rates diminishing in Britain
Consanguineous marriage is defined as a union in which the male-female couple are related as second cousins or closer. The practice is socially embedded in many regions of the world, including South Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. It is estimated that globally around 10-15% of newborns have consanguineous parents.
While the practice persists among the British Pakistanis, it appears to be on decline. Studying 13,500 families between 2007 and 2011, the Born in Bradford project found 60% of couples of Pakistani heritage were related by blood (first cousin, second cousin or other blood relative). But if both parents of Pakistani origin had been born in the UK, this fell to 30%.
A follow-up study between 2016 and 2020 found a sharp decline in consanguinity in the Pakistani community — from 60% to 40% overall.
Even so, it is still dramatically higher than the rates of intrafamily marriage among white Britons, where available data shows that less than 1% are married to their first cousin.
Young people more informed due to social media
Both Hasan and Rashid confirm the practice of marrying family members is becoming less common. They believe this is partly due to modern technology.
"British-born kids are more aware about health issues because they are on social media all the time that discuss everything, including health," Rashid says.
Rashid also believes that family quarrels that often follow marriage are also pushing people away from marrying their cousins.
A British Punjabi of Pakistani origin, who now lives close to Bradford, says youth should be allowed to choose their partners on their own.
"My own son refused to marry his cousin despite all family pressure but I supported him unlike other family members," he told DW on condition of anonymity. "We need to recognize that such marriages pose medical issues and must be discouraged."
Religion, obedience push youth towards consanguineous marriage
Bradford-based activist Beenash Faris admits that by and large consanguineous marriages are declining. But she also points out an interesting trend — the practice is resurfacing, albeit on a limited scale, among religious-minded young people.
"Religion lays a lot of emphasis on the respect and obedience of parents. So, I have seen some religious-minded young guys accepting their parents' advice on marriage matters or in some matters showing willingness to marry their cousins," she told DW.
Edited by: Darko Janjevic
Columbus stays Italian until Spanish scientists publish data
Matthew Ward Agius
Matthew Ward Agius
October 17, 2024
A Spanish TV documentary has broadcast claims that Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe and not from Genoa, Italy. But scientists want to see the data before the history books get rewritten.
New research suggests Christopher Columbus could be from Spanish Jewish descent, but experts warn the data has not been verified or peer-reviewed
Claims of Columbus' Jewish ancestry not verified by other scientists
According to the documentary, the Granada research team’s analysis confirms that Columbus' remains are in fact those in Seville Cathedral in Spain.
But the analysis also found that Columbus' long-held Italian identity could be incorrect.
The Granada researchers claim that Columbus' DNA is associated with populations from Western Europe, and with traces of DNA consistent with a Jewish origin.
"We have DNA from Christopher Columbus, very partial, but sufficient. We have DNA from Hernando Colon, his son, and both in the Y (male) chromosome and in the mitochondrial DNA (transmitted by the mother) of Hernando there are traits compatible with Jewish origin," Miguel Lorente said in the documentary.
But the scientific community has urged caution about this interpretation, as the research has only been presented in the documentary film and not in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning that the results were not scrutinized and checked by other scientists.
Toomas Kivisild, a geneticist from KU Leuven in Belgium, expressed disappointment that the claims had been presented in the media as research-based facts.
"The scientific community cannot be certain about these claims. No study has in fact been published, and no facts been made available for scientific scrutiny," Kivisild, who last year supervised the genetic decoding of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair samples, told DW.
Jose Antonio Lorentes told DW that "the complete and detailed scientific results of the research on what this documentary film on the origin of Columbus is based, will be presented at a press conference in November."
The data will also be submitted to an academic journal for peer-reviewed publication, he said.
DNA tests alone cannot determine nationality or religion
Mathieson and Kivisild told DW that it's not possible to determine someone’s nationality or religion from DNA analysis on its own. Nationality and religion are social concepts, and are not encoded in DNA.
The Granada team reportedly used a genetic test that analyzes an individual's autosomal DNA. Autosomes are the 22 nonsex chromosomes that are inherited from a person's paternal and maternal lines. This gives a high quality of genetic information from which to link a person’s recent ancestry to specific geographic regions.
But these tests only connect a person's genetic information to that of people currently living in a particular region.
DNA tests cannot, for instance, say whether a person is Jewish. Rather, they can point to whether a person's genes are linked with people who lived in a certain region who were known to be Jewish from other historical sources.
Researchers don't know what additional information the Granada team used to make the claim that Columbus was Jewish — only that they linked his DNA to Sephardic Jewish communities who lived in Western Europe at the time.
Kivisild added that the evidence may be based only on mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome analyses.
"[This] analysis cannot conclusively support the distinction of Spanish versus Italian or Sephardic Jewish ancestry," he said.
Edited by: Fred Schwaller
The article was corrected to clarify that Columbus first arrived in the Americas in October 1492.
A Spanish TV documentary has broadcast claims that Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe and not from Genoa, Italy. But scientists want to see the data before the history books get rewritten.
Image: CPA Media/AGB Photo/IMAGO
A Spanish TV documentary has claimed that the explorer Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe.
The claim could overturn long-accepted beliefs about the explorer's identity as a Genovese from the Italian peninsula.
The new claims of Columbus' ancestry were presented in a documentary on Spain’s broadcaster TVE called "Columbus DNA: The True Origin," and are the result of work led by forensic researchers Jose Antonio and Miguel Lorente from the University of Granada in Spain.
But experts have cast doubt on these claims — the results have not been published in a scientific journal and therefore cannot be verified.
Additionally, experts say it's not possible for genetic analysis to determine Columbus' religion without additional historical context, which Lorente did not provide.
"DNA simply cannot show that someone is or was Jewish (a religious and/or cultural identity, not an ancestry). At most you might show with high probability that someone has relatives today or in the past who were or are Jewish," Iain Mathieson, a geneticist at the University of Pennsylvania in the US, told DW.
Who was Columbus and why is his ancestry a hot topic?
Columbus led the Spanish Empire's exploration of the Americas in 1492, bringing the first European ships to the coastlines of the Caribbean.
For many decades he was celebrated for his "discovery" of the Americas, but Columbus has also become symbolic of the oppression and dispossession of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas by colonial powers.
Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506, but his remains were moved to Cuba in 1795 and then to Seville in 1898. Columbus’ remains were reportedly stored in Seville Cathedral, but some historians have disputed this.
His birthplace is also disputed by historians. Many claim he is from Genoa in Italy, but others suggest Spain, Portugal, Greece and the British Isles as other possible birthplaces.
A Spanish TV documentary has claimed that the explorer Christopher Columbus was a Sephardic Jew from Western Europe.
The claim could overturn long-accepted beliefs about the explorer's identity as a Genovese from the Italian peninsula.
The new claims of Columbus' ancestry were presented in a documentary on Spain’s broadcaster TVE called "Columbus DNA: The True Origin," and are the result of work led by forensic researchers Jose Antonio and Miguel Lorente from the University of Granada in Spain.
But experts have cast doubt on these claims — the results have not been published in a scientific journal and therefore cannot be verified.
Additionally, experts say it's not possible for genetic analysis to determine Columbus' religion without additional historical context, which Lorente did not provide.
"DNA simply cannot show that someone is or was Jewish (a religious and/or cultural identity, not an ancestry). At most you might show with high probability that someone has relatives today or in the past who were or are Jewish," Iain Mathieson, a geneticist at the University of Pennsylvania in the US, told DW.
Who was Columbus and why is his ancestry a hot topic?
Columbus led the Spanish Empire's exploration of the Americas in 1492, bringing the first European ships to the coastlines of the Caribbean.
For many decades he was celebrated for his "discovery" of the Americas, but Columbus has also become symbolic of the oppression and dispossession of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas by colonial powers.
Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, in 1506, but his remains were moved to Cuba in 1795 and then to Seville in 1898. Columbus’ remains were reportedly stored in Seville Cathedral, but some historians have disputed this.
His birthplace is also disputed by historians. Many claim he is from Genoa in Italy, but others suggest Spain, Portugal, Greece and the British Isles as other possible birthplaces.
Statue of Columbus in Santa Margherita, ItalyImage: Franz Neumayr/picturedesk/picture alliance
Claims of Columbus' Jewish ancestry not verified by other scientists
According to the documentary, the Granada research team’s analysis confirms that Columbus' remains are in fact those in Seville Cathedral in Spain.
But the analysis also found that Columbus' long-held Italian identity could be incorrect.
The Granada researchers claim that Columbus' DNA is associated with populations from Western Europe, and with traces of DNA consistent with a Jewish origin.
"We have DNA from Christopher Columbus, very partial, but sufficient. We have DNA from Hernando Colon, his son, and both in the Y (male) chromosome and in the mitochondrial DNA (transmitted by the mother) of Hernando there are traits compatible with Jewish origin," Miguel Lorente said in the documentary.
But the scientific community has urged caution about this interpretation, as the research has only been presented in the documentary film and not in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning that the results were not scrutinized and checked by other scientists.
Toomas Kivisild, a geneticist from KU Leuven in Belgium, expressed disappointment that the claims had been presented in the media as research-based facts.
"The scientific community cannot be certain about these claims. No study has in fact been published, and no facts been made available for scientific scrutiny," Kivisild, who last year supervised the genetic decoding of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair samples, told DW.
Jose Antonio Lorentes told DW that "the complete and detailed scientific results of the research on what this documentary film on the origin of Columbus is based, will be presented at a press conference in November."
The data will also be submitted to an academic journal for peer-reviewed publication, he said.
DNA tests alone cannot determine nationality or religion
Mathieson and Kivisild told DW that it's not possible to determine someone’s nationality or religion from DNA analysis on its own. Nationality and religion are social concepts, and are not encoded in DNA.
The Granada team reportedly used a genetic test that analyzes an individual's autosomal DNA. Autosomes are the 22 nonsex chromosomes that are inherited from a person's paternal and maternal lines. This gives a high quality of genetic information from which to link a person’s recent ancestry to specific geographic regions.
But these tests only connect a person's genetic information to that of people currently living in a particular region.
DNA tests cannot, for instance, say whether a person is Jewish. Rather, they can point to whether a person's genes are linked with people who lived in a certain region who were known to be Jewish from other historical sources.
Researchers don't know what additional information the Granada team used to make the claim that Columbus was Jewish — only that they linked his DNA to Sephardic Jewish communities who lived in Western Europe at the time.
Kivisild added that the evidence may be based only on mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome analyses.
"[This] analysis cannot conclusively support the distinction of Spanish versus Italian or Sephardic Jewish ancestry," he said.
Edited by: Fred Schwaller
The article was corrected to clarify that Columbus first arrived in the Americas in October 1492.
Why we should care about airplane contrails
Anne-Sophie Brändlin
DW
Condensation trails or contrails — the white, feathery lines behind airplanes — could have as big an impact on the climate as the aviation sector's CO2 emissions. Here's why, and what we can do mitigate the effects.
Condensation trails or contrails — the white, feathery lines behind airplanes — could have as big an impact on the climate as the aviation sector's CO2 emissions. Here's why, and what we can do mitigate the effects.
The climate impact of aviation could be three times higher than thought because of non-CO2 emissions like contrails
Image: Nicolas Economou/picture alliance
When thinking of flying's environmental impact, the CO2 emitted from burning jet fuel is usually what springs to mind. But there's another, lesser understood climate culprit hiding in plain sight: condensation trails.
The wispy, cloud-like formations left by airplanes as they traverse the skies may look innocuous, but the climate impact from 'contrails' could be similar to aviation CO2.
"I'm actually more worried about contrails at this point than I am about CO2 emissions because it is an impact that has not been internalized by the industry in any shape or form," said Jayant Mukhopadhaya, a lead aviation researcher for the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a US environment think tank.
A 2021 study suggests contrails and other non-CO2 emissions could account for up to two-thirds of aviation's total climate impact. Contrails could represent 57% of that impact — roughly the same as CO2 emissions from burning fuel.
The aviation industry is currently thought to be responsible for 2 to 3.5% of global CO2 emissions annually.
"But if you start taking into account these other pollutants that aviation is responsible for, the aviation sector is actually accounting for a far higher amount of warming than we usually ascribe to it," said Mukhopadhaya, adding that it could be three times greater than previously assumed.
How are contrails formed and why are they a problem?
Contrails form when airplanes fly through very cold, humid pockets of air in the upper atmosphere. When plane engines burn jet fuel, water vapor condenses on particles from the air and exhaust to form ice crystals. If there are a lot of ice crystals, they make cirrus clouds.
"Some of them persist for only a few seconds or minutes, others for hours or even days, depending on the amount of moisture and the temperature," said Patrick Minnis, a senior NASA scientist researching the climate impact of contrails and the behavior of cirrus clouds.
Contrail cirrus clouds trap heat in the atmosphere. The warming effects are worse at night when they're not also reflecting sunlight back into space.
"Producing contrails is basically like wrapping a blanket around Earth every year that traps heat and warms the planet," said Mukhopadhaya.
How much warming do contrails cause?
While scientists say contrails cause warming, there's less consensus regarding the degree and timescale, as well as what they mean for climate change.
"The exact magnitude of the warming impact of contrails is uncertain. The estimates range from 30% of the impact airplane of CO2 to as much as four times, so it's quite a large range," said Mukhopadhaya.
That's because there's a level of uncertainty in most contrail studies so far due to a lack of sufficient data. But it also comes down to the metrics scientists use to measure contrail impact. For instance, according to Mukhopadhaya, unlike for long-lasting CO2, it doesn't make sense to look at contrails over a 100-year period because they dissipate so quickly.
"What we're interested in is how much global mean surface temperature changes because of these pollutants," said Mukhopadhaya. "And contrails could be responsible for roughly 15% of our available carbon budget to reach the 1.5 degrees goal by 2050."
When thinking of flying's environmental impact, the CO2 emitted from burning jet fuel is usually what springs to mind. But there's another, lesser understood climate culprit hiding in plain sight: condensation trails.
The wispy, cloud-like formations left by airplanes as they traverse the skies may look innocuous, but the climate impact from 'contrails' could be similar to aviation CO2.
"I'm actually more worried about contrails at this point than I am about CO2 emissions because it is an impact that has not been internalized by the industry in any shape or form," said Jayant Mukhopadhaya, a lead aviation researcher for the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a US environment think tank.
A 2021 study suggests contrails and other non-CO2 emissions could account for up to two-thirds of aviation's total climate impact. Contrails could represent 57% of that impact — roughly the same as CO2 emissions from burning fuel.
The aviation industry is currently thought to be responsible for 2 to 3.5% of global CO2 emissions annually.
"But if you start taking into account these other pollutants that aviation is responsible for, the aviation sector is actually accounting for a far higher amount of warming than we usually ascribe to it," said Mukhopadhaya, adding that it could be three times greater than previously assumed.
How are contrails formed and why are they a problem?
Contrails form when airplanes fly through very cold, humid pockets of air in the upper atmosphere. When plane engines burn jet fuel, water vapor condenses on particles from the air and exhaust to form ice crystals. If there are a lot of ice crystals, they make cirrus clouds.
"Some of them persist for only a few seconds or minutes, others for hours or even days, depending on the amount of moisture and the temperature," said Patrick Minnis, a senior NASA scientist researching the climate impact of contrails and the behavior of cirrus clouds.
Contrail cirrus clouds trap heat in the atmosphere. The warming effects are worse at night when they're not also reflecting sunlight back into space.
"Producing contrails is basically like wrapping a blanket around Earth every year that traps heat and warms the planet," said Mukhopadhaya.
How much warming do contrails cause?
While scientists say contrails cause warming, there's less consensus regarding the degree and timescale, as well as what they mean for climate change.
"The exact magnitude of the warming impact of contrails is uncertain. The estimates range from 30% of the impact airplane of CO2 to as much as four times, so it's quite a large range," said Mukhopadhaya.
That's because there's a level of uncertainty in most contrail studies so far due to a lack of sufficient data. But it also comes down to the metrics scientists use to measure contrail impact. For instance, according to Mukhopadhaya, unlike for long-lasting CO2, it doesn't make sense to look at contrails over a 100-year period because they dissipate so quickly.
"What we're interested in is how much global mean surface temperature changes because of these pollutants," said Mukhopadhaya. "And contrails could be responsible for roughly 15% of our available carbon budget to reach the 1.5 degrees goal by 2050."
"There are direct incentives to reduce the climate impact of CO2 emissions. Those don't exist for contrails," said MukhopadhayaImage: Florian Gaertner/picture alliance
How to cut contrails' climate impact
As contrails are short-lived compared to CO2 emissions their warming impact would disappear quickly if efforts were made to minimize their formation, say experts.
One solution is switching to "cleaner" fuels with less sulfur, like hydrogen. This would reduce the amount of air pollutants released by jets and lower the life span of contrails, according to NASA's Patrick Minnis.
Last year, the European Union introduced legislation setting mandates for sustainable aviation fuels. By 2050, all jet fuels sold in European countries will have to consist of 70% "sustainable aviation fuels."
"That will help not only reduce the non-CO2 impact from aviation, it will also have a significant impact on the sector's CO2 emissions," Mukhopadhaya said.
Scientists have also found that not all flights create contrails in the first place. It all depends on weather conditions and the aircraft's trajectory. Rerouting less than 2% of flights in Japan could have reduced the warming effect of contrails by nearly 60%, a 2020 study found.
But predicting beforehand which flight routes will cause contrails and how much warming these contrails will cause is very difficult.
"You have to consider the atmosphere like a cake. The top layer of the cake is the upper atmosphere and within that there's all sorts of striations of moisture. So, knowing exactly where those layers are that have a lot of moisture in them is something that's been relatively difficult to predict," said Minnis.
How to cut contrails' climate impact
As contrails are short-lived compared to CO2 emissions their warming impact would disappear quickly if efforts were made to minimize their formation, say experts.
One solution is switching to "cleaner" fuels with less sulfur, like hydrogen. This would reduce the amount of air pollutants released by jets and lower the life span of contrails, according to NASA's Patrick Minnis.
Last year, the European Union introduced legislation setting mandates for sustainable aviation fuels. By 2050, all jet fuels sold in European countries will have to consist of 70% "sustainable aviation fuels."
"That will help not only reduce the non-CO2 impact from aviation, it will also have a significant impact on the sector's CO2 emissions," Mukhopadhaya said.
Scientists have also found that not all flights create contrails in the first place. It all depends on weather conditions and the aircraft's trajectory. Rerouting less than 2% of flights in Japan could have reduced the warming effect of contrails by nearly 60%, a 2020 study found.
But predicting beforehand which flight routes will cause contrails and how much warming these contrails will cause is very difficult.
"You have to consider the atmosphere like a cake. The top layer of the cake is the upper atmosphere and within that there's all sorts of striations of moisture. So, knowing exactly where those layers are that have a lot of moisture in them is something that's been relatively difficult to predict," said Minnis.
Only a tiny propotion of the total flight distance is responsible for persistent contrails that cause warmingImage: Dreamstime/IMAGO
Proper prediction would require improvements in satellite work and a lot more expensive computer storage, added the NASA researcher.
Flying planes lower has been touted as another solution because contrails form at higher altitudes but the "problem is that if you go to lower levels, you're going to have more turbulence, and you're going to use more fuel," Minnis said. And that means higher CO2 emissions.
"But we estimate the impact of those additional CO2 emissions to be significantly lower than the impact from contrail production," said ICCT's Mukhopadhaya.
More data needed
A 2024 study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an industry trade body, suggests more data needs to be collected to understand the non-CO2 impacts of aviation so solutions can be found.
Proper prediction would require improvements in satellite work and a lot more expensive computer storage, added the NASA researcher.
Flying planes lower has been touted as another solution because contrails form at higher altitudes but the "problem is that if you go to lower levels, you're going to have more turbulence, and you're going to use more fuel," Minnis said. And that means higher CO2 emissions.
"But we estimate the impact of those additional CO2 emissions to be significantly lower than the impact from contrail production," said ICCT's Mukhopadhaya.
More data needed
A 2024 study by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an industry trade body, suggests more data needs to be collected to understand the non-CO2 impacts of aviation so solutions can be found.
Improvements in satellite work could help mitigate contrail formation in the future
Image: ESA/dpa/picture alliance
Airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and American Airlines have already started contrail avoidance test flights above or below at-risk areas with the help of satellite images, weather data, software models and AI prediction tools.
"That's a great first step, as about 50% of warming due to contrails happens over the US, EU and the North Atlantic — three regions with high aviation activities," said Mukhopadhaya.
A 2024 Cambridge University report suggests that accelerating the deployment of a global contrail avoidance system could reduce aviation's climate impact by 40%.
The EU has also agreed airlines will have to monitor and report the climate impact of contrails in a move opposed by the industry.
"The aviation industry has been delaying action for around 20 years now, driven by the lack of uncertainty regarding contrail science," said Mukhopadhaya. But the fact research is now being done in real life rather than on computer simulations is "very promising for avoidance measures in the future," he added.
Edited by: Jennifer Collins
Airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, KLM and American Airlines have already started contrail avoidance test flights above or below at-risk areas with the help of satellite images, weather data, software models and AI prediction tools.
"That's a great first step, as about 50% of warming due to contrails happens over the US, EU and the North Atlantic — three regions with high aviation activities," said Mukhopadhaya.
A 2024 Cambridge University report suggests that accelerating the deployment of a global contrail avoidance system could reduce aviation's climate impact by 40%.
The EU has also agreed airlines will have to monitor and report the climate impact of contrails in a move opposed by the industry.
"The aviation industry has been delaying action for around 20 years now, driven by the lack of uncertainty regarding contrail science," said Mukhopadhaya. But the fact research is now being done in real life rather than on computer simulations is "very promising for avoidance measures in the future," he added.
Edited by: Jennifer Collins
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