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Chemicals in plastics far more numerous than previous estimates, report says

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Chemicals in plastics far more numerous than previous estimates, report says

A report found that plastics contain at least 3,000 more chemicals than previously estimated by environment agencies, totaling over 16,000 chemicals, a quarter of which are considered hazardous to human health and the environment. This discovery raises concerns over pollution and consumer safety. The report, funded by the Norwegian Research Council, highlights the importance of addressing the full life cycle of plastics and the chemicals they contain to solve plastic pollution effectively. The research indicates that plastic chemicals can leach into water and food, potentially leading to adverse health outcomes such as fertility issues and cardiovascular disease. The study also points out the need for greater transparency regarding the chemicals used in plastics, including recycled products, noting that a quarter of the identified chemicals lack basic information on their chemical identity. Only 6% of the chemicals found in plastics are regulated internationally, underscoring the need for a global treaty to address these issues. Negotiations for such a treaty are ongoing, with the aim of finalizing it by December in Busan, South Korea.

Sixty migrants feared drowned crossing Mediterranean from Libya

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Sixty migrants feared drowned crossing Mediterranean from Libya

– Up to 60 people are feared drowned in a migrant vessel crossing from Libya to Italy or Malta.
– SOS Mediterranee rescued 25 people in coordination with the Italian Coast Guard, and two unconscious individuals were airlifted to Sicily.
– The central Mediterranean is a deadly migration route, with almost 2,500 migrants dying or going missing last year, and 226 since the start of 2024.
– Survivors, who departed from Zawiya, Libya, reported their engine broke three days into their journey, leaving them adrift without food or water for days, and at least 60 people died, including women and a child.
– The IOM expressed deep concern over the incident and called for urgent action to strengthen maritime patrols.
– SOS Mediterranee conducted additional rescues, saving a total of 226 people over two days, and requested a closer port than Ancona for disembarkation due to the poor condition of the migrants.
– Italy’s government is accused of obstructing rescue activities by charity groups, forcing them to distant ports and sometimes impounding their ships.
– Italy and other EU governments are attempting to reduce migrant crossings from North Africa by offering support to Libya and Tunisia.
– Italian Interior Ministry data shows a decrease in sea migrant arrivals this year compared to the same period in 2023.

Overnight pharmacies for Thursday, 14 March

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Overnight pharmacies for Thursday, 14 March

The text provides a list of individuals along with their addresses and contact numbers, categorized by their locations in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, and Paralimni. Each entry includes the name of the individual, their address, and one or two telephone numbers.

Australia, ’s Great Barrier Reef suffers major coral bleaching

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Australia, ’s Great Barrier Reef suffers major coral bleaching

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is experiencing a major coral bleaching event, confirmed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). This event is consistent with patterns of heat stress accumulated over the summer. The bleaching is extensive in shallow water areas, but in-water surveys are needed to confirm the severity and depth range of the bleaching. The bleaching is attributed to elevated sea surface temperatures driven by climate change and amplified by El Nino. This marks the fifth mass bleaching event in eight years, indicating significant pressure from climate change on the reef. Coral bleaching causes corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, turning them white, which can affect their growth and reproduction. The Great Barrier Reef contributes about A billion to the economy and supports 64,000 jobs.

On This Day: Sun Yat-sen, father of modern China, died in 1925

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On This Day: Sun Yat-sen, father of modern China, died in 1925

– Sun Yat-sen, the Chinese revolutionary leader and first provisional president of modern China, died in 1925.
– German troops invaded Austria in 1938.
– Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999, becoming the first former Soviet bloc members to do so.
– American-born violinist and music teacher Yehudi Menuhin died in Berlin in 1999.
– Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was assassinated in 2003.
– In 2005, a Russian sportsman attempted to set a record by staying in cold water for 60 minutes.
– China accepted the resignation of Hong Kong’s chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa, in 2005.
– Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty to the largest fraud in Wall Street history in 2009.
– Radiation levels were checked near Fukushima after an explosion and radiation leak at a nuclear power plant in 2011.
– Researchers claimed to have found a hidden Da Vinci masterpiece in 2012.
– A fatal gas explosion occurred in New York’s Harlem neighborhood in 2014.

Aid ship leaves Cyprus bound for Gaza as Palestinians on brink of famine

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Aid ship leaves Cyprus bound for Gaza as Palestinians on brink of famine

– A ship carrying almost 200 tonnes of food for Gaza left Cyprus on Tuesday, aiming to open a new sea route to deliver aid to Palestinians.
– The charity ship Open Arms was seen sailing out of Larnaca port in Cyprus, towing a barge containing flour, rice, and protein.
– The journey to Gaza takes about 15 hours, but with a heavy tow barge, it could take up to 2 days.
– Cyprus is just over 200 miles (320 km) north-west of Gaza.
– The U.S. military’s vessel, the General Frank S. Besson, was also en route to provide humanitarian relief to Gaza by sea.
– The U.S. military parachuted more than 27,600 meals and 25,900 bottles of water into northern Gaza.
– The U.N. estimates a quarter of Gaza’s population is at risk of starvation.
– Jordanian state media reported seven humanitarian air drops on Monday, with Jordan, the U.S., Egypt, France, Belgium, and Morocco participating.
– The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people.
– Palestinian media reported that seven Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded in Israeli gunfire in Gaza City early on Tuesday.
– United Nations chief Antonio Guterres appealed for a truce and the removal of obstacles to life-saving aid.
– Hamas killed 1,200 people in an Oct. 7 attack on Israel and took 253 hostages.
– Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed more than 31,000 Palestinians.
– Israel was checking if it had killed Hamas’s deputy military leader, Marwan Issa, in an airstrike in Gaza.
– Marwan Issa is known as the ‘Shadow Man’ and is second-in-command of Hamas’s military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades.
– Negotiations on a ceasefire in Israel’s war against Hamas remain deadlocked in Cairo.
– An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza City killed 16 people and wounded several others.
– The Israeli military said its forces killed about 15 militants in central Gaza.
– Lebanon’s Hezbollah launched several drones at an outpost in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.
– Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Red Sea toward merchant vessel Pinocchio, with no injuries or damage reported.

Israel checking reports that Hamas’ military No 2 killed in Gaza strike

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Israel checking reports that Hamas’ military No 2 killed in Gaza strike

Israel was investigating whether Marwan Issa, Hamas’s second-highest military leader, died in an air strike on the Al-Nusseirat camp in central Gaza. The attack, which occurred on Saturday night, resulted in five fatalities. Issa is a key figure in Hamas’s military wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades. His death could impact efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza war, which has lasted more than five months, causing significant casualties and destruction. The conflict began after a Hamas attack on October 7, leading to over 31,000 Palestinian deaths and nearly 73,000 injuries. Negotiations for a ceasefire are ongoing, with involvement from Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Additionally, an Israeli air strike in Gaza City killed 16 people in the Abu Shammala family’s house. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, with a significant humanitarian crisis unfolding. Aid efforts are being made, including the dispatch of vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Man arrested for manslaughter after migrant tragedy off Cyprus, released

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Man arrested for manslaughter after migrant tragedy off Cyprus, released

A 22-year-old man arrested on charges of manslaughter after a six-year-old boy died and three individuals went missing in a migrant tragedy off Cyprus was released following testimonies from survivors. The survivors claimed the 22-year-old was not the navigator, but had occasionally steered the boat. The actual navigator, according to the migrants, is among the missing. The young Syrian man was released and taken to the Pournara Reception Centre with the other 30 migrants. There is currently no criminal prosecution for anyone involved, pending the discovery of the navigator. The six-year-old’s death was confirmed by his father, stating the child’s body was thrown into the sea. The migrants had paid 2,500-3,000 euros to smugglers and set off from the coast on the border of Syria and Lebanon. Bad weather made the boat unmanageable, leading to a lack of fuel, food, and water, forcing them to drink seawater. A 36-year-old man is hospitalized in serious condition with hypernatremia. The boat left on February 20 and was found on February 29, 58 nautical miles off the coast of Cyprus, with 31 people rescued.

Classical music for old and young

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Classical music for old and young

The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra is presenting two concerts in March: a family concert featuring “Peter and the Wolf” on March 22 in Nicosia and a concert dedicated to French romantic composers on March 28 in Nicosia and March 29 in Limassol. “Peter and the Wolf” is composed by Sergei Prokofiev and will be conducted by Francis Nectarios Guy with narration by Petros Georkadjis. The French romantic composers’ concert will be conducted by Patrick Gallois, featuring principal flute soloist Vincent Lucas, and will include works by Gabriel Fauré, Jacques Ibert, and Camille Saint-Saëns.

No fuel to run the economy

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No fuel to run the economy

Inflation in Cyprus was reported to be lower than expected and below the Eurozone target average of 2%. Despite this, the real economy is facing challenges with small to medium-sized enterprises closing almost daily due to rising electricity costs and fuel prices, which are expected to increase further due to a rise in world crude prices. Small businesses are also burdened by local fees and taxes. The consumers’ association criticized the Energy Ministry for a lack of transparency regarding the formula for determining fuel prices at the pump, suggesting that more openness could have reduced fuel prices by about 3-4 cents a litre during October to December. Additionally, the price of olive oil increased by 54% over the past year, with a further 3.4% increase in February. Some goods and services have helped keep the consumer price index in check, but prices in several sectors continue to rise due to a lack of healthy competition in the Cyprus economy. The “photovoltaics for all” scheme has been criticized for not adequately supporting households unable to invest in lower-energy appliances. The current administration has been reluctant to introduce more support measures for vulnerable people, aiming to maintain a sound fiscal policy.