South Asia

Damascus, Jan 11 (IANS) Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged neutrality in Lebanon's affairs during a joint press conference with visiting Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday.

"We will remain equidistant from all Lebanese," al-Sharaa said at the press conference. He noted the two sides had also discussed issues such as smuggling between the two countries, border challenges, and Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks.

"We're envisioning strategic, long-term relations built on solid foundations," he added.

Mikati echoed this sentiment, highlighting the intertwined destinies of the two nations.

"As long as Syria is well, Lebanon is well," he said, expressing hope that efforts by Damascus to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis could alleviate the strain on Lebanon. Mikati also commended the interim Syrian authorities' willingness to engage, noting his discussions with al-Sharaa covered regional challenges and ways to bolster bilateral ties.

The two sides did not announce any formal agreements, Xinhua news agency reported.

Relations between the two neighbouring countries have grown tense in recent weeks. Syria recently imposed restrictions on cross-border movement following security incidents along the shared border. Previously, Lebanese citizens could enter Syria visa-free using only identification documents.

The border region has also seen a series of clashes between Syrian armed groups and Lebanese forces, resulting in casualties among Lebanese military personnel.

Mikati's visit to Damascus is the first by a sitting Lebanese premier to Syria in over a decade.

He is accompanied by a senior delegation including Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and top security officials. The visit follows a formal invitation from al-Sharaa, extended during a phone call last week.

The meeting took place as Syria navigates a political transition following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad last December.

Al-Sharaa, who led the coalition that toppled al-Assad, is now overseeing efforts to stabilise Syria and rebuild its regional relationships.

--IANS

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Bonn, Jan 10 (IANS) The EU climate watchdog confirmed Friday that 2024 was the warmest year globally since records began in 1850, underscoring the intensifying impacts of climate change and the urgent need for decisive global action.

According to the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the year shattered multiple climate records, driven largely by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and amplified by a strong El Nino event.

C3S reported that the global average temperature for 2024 reached 15.1 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12 degrees Celsius and exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.6 degrees Celsius. For the first time, global temperatures crossed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold - a key marker in the Paris Agreement aimed at limiting global warming.

Throughout 2024, 11 out of 12 months recorded average temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. On July 22, the global average temperature peaked at 17.16 degrees Celsius.

Sea surface temperatures also hit record highs, with extra-polar ocean water averaging 20.87 degrees Celsius, while atmospheric water vapor increased by about 5 percent over the 1991-2020 average.

The melting of sea ice in both the Arctic and Antarctic added to the alarming trends, with Antarctic sea ice extent remaining near record lows for much of the year, and Arctic sea ice levels significantly reduced, particularly after July.

Friederike Otto, senior lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: "The climate is heating to levels we've spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal."

In his New Year's address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described 2024 as "deadly heat," warning of a "climate breakdown" in real-time and urging immediate action to dramatically reduce emissions and support the transition to renewable energy.

The extreme temperatures in 2024 fueled widespread heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, particularly in Southern Europe.

Countries like Italy, France, and Spain endured prolonged heatwaves, while Greece battled nearly 9,500 wildfires. These extreme conditions significantly strained public health systems and prompted large-scale evacuations.

Flooding in Spain and Germany caused extensive economic damage and displaced thousands, while severe drought emptied one of Bosnia's largest lakes, Lake Jablanicko in December.

According to the World Weather Attribution's (WWA's) annual report, the record global temperatures of 2024 directly intensified rainfall events, with 15 out of 16 floods studied linked to climate change.

The WWA report revealed that climate-related disasters in 2024 claimed at least 3,700 lives, displaced millions, and caused catastrophic damage to ecosystems. Coral reefs experienced unprecedented bleaching, threatening marine biodiversity and the industries reliant on these ecosystems.

"The Valencia floods, U.S. hurricanes, Philippines typhoons and Amazon drought are just four disasters last year that were worsened by climate change. There are many, many more," Otto told Xinhua news agency.

Looking ahead, climate experts warn that the extreme weather patterns witnessed in 2024 are likely to persist. Julien Nicolas, climate scientist at C3S, explained that while global temperatures may slightly decline in 2025 due to a transition from El Nino to La Nina conditions, the long-term warming trend remains intact.

"There are ups and downs in global temperatures due to natural processes, like El Nino," said Joeri Rogelj, research director at the Grantham Institute of Imperial College London. "But a small dip doesn't change the clear upward trajectory we're on."

Recognising the urgency, Carlo Buontempo, C3S director at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, stressed the importance of taking action now: "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate."

The World Meteorological Organization's forecast in December 2024 indicated a greater than 50 percent chance of La Nina conditions developing in the next three months.

"We are loading the dice ... toward these extreme climate events," Nicolas said, warning that heat waves and extreme rainfall events are likely to hit almost all continental regions.

--IANS

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Damascus, Jan 10 (IANS) Three women died and five children suffered severe fractures and bruises on Friday in a stampede at the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital Damascus while attempting to get free meals in a charitable activity, according to the Syrian Civil Defence.

The incident occurred during a banquet promoted by a well-known chef, Abu Omari al-Dimashqi, who had invited the public to a free meal in the yard of the historic mosque in the Old City of Damascus.

Local sources and eyewitnesses said large crowds flocked into the mosque's courtyard and nearby areas amid an apparent shortage of crowd control measures, leading to chaotic scenes.

Security personnel arrived at the scene, closing off roads to manage the influx of attendees, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Umayyad Mosque, one of the most iconic landmarks of Damascus, typically hosts religious and cultural events. Large-scale public gatherings are rarely held there and usually require prior coordination with local officials.

The city's security and public service structures are still adjusting after the recent political upheaval, following the abrupt end of the previous Syrian government in December of last year.

--IANS

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Jerusalem, Jan 8 (IANS) Israeli and Palestinian bioengineers developed two new metamaterials to create whole cuts of meat using injection molding, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) said in a statement on Wednesday.

In a new study published in Nature Communications, the team leveraged cutting-edge materials science to overcome the long-standing challenges of replicating the texture and structure of traditional meat while offering a scalable and cost-effective production method.

By adopting principles typically used in the aerospace industry, the team led by Mohammad Ghosheh and Yaakov Nahmias from Hebrew University, developed meat analogues that mimic the intricate architecture of muscle and fat.

Metamaterials are engineered composite materials whose properties arise from their structure rather than their composition.

The first metamaterial developed by the team is a low-temperature meat analog that replicates the fibrous texture of muscle tissue.

The second one is a proteoleogel, a plant-protein-stabilized oil gel that emulates the structural integrity and cooking behavior of animal fat, reported Xinhua news agency.

To create the new meat analogs with the new metamaterials, the team used injection molding, a high-capacity manufacturing process borrowed from the polymer industry.

HU noted that this marks the first time this technology has been applied to alternative meat production.

Together, these materials allow the creation of complex meat cuts, such as steaks, chops, and T-bones, with high precision and sensory fidelity.

According to the study, this method reduces costs to 9 US dollars per kilogramme at large-scale production, nearly a quarter of the cost of 3D printing, making sustainable meat alternatives more accessible to a broader audience.

Blind taste tests included in the study showed that participants couldn't tell the difference between steak analogs and real meat.

HU concluded that the study highlights metamaterials' potential to create scalable, sustainable protein alternatives, addressing the environmental impact and freshwater use in livestock farming and opening new possibilities for sustainable food products.

Tehran, Jan 8 (IANS) Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that his country and Iraq have common concerns about the ongoing developments in Syria.

He made the remarks at a joint press conference with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani following their meeting in the Iranian capital Tehran earlier in the day, according to a statement published on the website of his office.

Pezeshkian said he had discussed recent developments in the West Asia region with the Iraqi prime minister, listing some of the two countries' common concerns over Syria as ensuring stability and calm, maintaining its territorial integrity, countering terrorist activities, making Israel leave the occupied Syrian territories and paying attention to religious sentiments, especially with regard to Shiite Muslims' sacred sites and holy shrines in Syria.

He added the two sides also exchanged views on the risks of terrorism and the possibility of the reactivation of terrorist cells in the region, which required further cooperation between Iran and Iraq and their greater vigilance.

Pezeshkian said Iran had always wanted peace, stability and development for its neighbours, adding the country attached great importance to Iraq's security and growth and the Iraqi people's welfare.

The Iraqi prime minister, for his part, said his visit to Iran was within the framework of promoting bilateral cooperation and relations, noting, "We will make efforts to expand cooperation between Iraq and Iran to help ensure security and stability in both countries and prosperity in their ties with each other," according to the official news agency IRNA.

The Iraqi News Agency INA said Al-Sudani affirmed Iraq's commitment to building balanced relations with all international and regional parties to serve mutual interests.

On the Syrian situation, he said restoring calm to Syria was the key to regional stability, calling on all sides to contribute to the achievement of a comprehensive political solution in the country, one that would preserve the Arab state's sovereignty and territorial integrity and stop foreign interference.

Al-Sudani expressed Iraq's readiness for cooperation with all parties in Syria for a peaceful transition of government in a way that all Syrian groups were included, Xinhua news agency reported.

Heading a delegation, al-Sudani arrived in Tehran on Wednesday on a one-day trip for talks on bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

--IANS

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Kandy (Sri Lanka), Dec 12 (IANS) Jaffna Titans registered a comprehensive win against Colombo Jaguars by 40 runs to add two more points to the tally in the Lanka T10 Super League at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on a rain-marred second day.

Jaffna rode on spectacular batting by opener Kusal Mendis and his Sri Lankan teammate Charith Asalanka to post a mammoth 138/6 in 10 overs on the board. While Mendis struck 37 off just 19 deliveries, Asalanka notched up 56 off 24 with the help of five maximums and as many fours. For the Jaguars, skipper Angelo Mathews and Ali Khan picked up two wickets each.

Later, bowlers especially youngster Treveen Mathew who has been gathering praise from everyone for his spin bowling did the job for the Titans and restricted the opposition to 98/6. The Colombo Jaguars never really got the start they needed and lost wickets at regular intervals. Treveen Mathew once again showed his skills and returned with bowling figures of 3/18 in 20 overs.

Earlier, the first match on Day 2 between Kandy Bolts and Nuwara Eliya Kings was called off due to rain after just 3.3 overs.

Kandy Bolts who were batting first had put up 38/1 with Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka being not out at 26 off 11 when rain arrived. The second fixture between Galle Marvels and Hambantota Bangla Tigers was abandoned without a toss.

--IANS

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Beirut, Dec 10 (IANS) Oman hosted a high-level regional meeting on Monday to review progress in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, nearly 30 years after its adoption, the Lebanon-based UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) announced.

The meeting, attended by ministers, officials, civil society representatives, and UN agencies, concluded with the Muscat Declaration, reaffirming Arab countries' commitment to advancing women's rights under the Beijing framework, Xinhua news agency reported.

Omani Minister of Social Development Laila Al Najjar emphasised the progress witnessed in Oman in terms of laws and regulations that guarantee the protection of women's rights.

ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti highlighted over 100 legislative amendments issued across Arab states in the past two years to improve women's rights but acknowledged ongoing challenges, including the impact of armed conflicts on 15 million women in the region.

Discussions focused on combating violence against women, boosting women's economic participation, advancing their decision-making roles, and protecting women in conflicts. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous stressed that sustainable development and peace require women's full empowerment and called for transforming commitments into impactful actions.

Adopted in 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action remains a global framework for advancing women's rights and achieving gender equality.

--IANS

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Istanbul, Dec 10 (IANS) Istanbul Airport, Turkey's largest aviation hub, will launch simultaneous takeoff and landing operations on all three runways to accommodate the growing passenger capacity, as announced by the transport and infrastructure minister.

"On April 17, 2025, we will begin simultaneous takeoff and landing operations on all three runways at Istanbul Airport," Abdulkadir Uraloglu said in a statement.

"This will allow us to minimise operational delays. Additionally, we will maximise fuel savings and flight efficiency," the minister added.

Under its expansion plan, the airport will have six runways by 2028. "With the commissioning of the new runways, the efficiency of air traffic operations will further improve," Uraloglu noted.

The airport served approximately 76 million passengers last year and aims to increase this number to 81 million by the end of this year.

Istanbul Airport officially opened in late October 2018 and became fully operational in early April 2019.

--IANS

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Damascus, Dec 10 (IANS) Syria's militant forces that have taken control of Damascus announced a general amnesty for all army personnel conscripted into mandatory service.

In a statement, the militant forces' Military Operations Department declared, "We grant amnesty to all army conscripts under mandatory service. They are guaranteed safety, and any aggression against them is prohibited."

The amnesty is seen as part of broader reconciliation efforts to reintegrate military personnel who may have been captured or fled during the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the official news agency SANA.

Further details about the amnesty or its impact were not immediately clear.

In a stunning turn of events on Sunday, militant forces in Syria seized the capital Damascus and declared the end of Assad's rule, following a rapid offensive that saw major Syrian cities falling like dominos within less than two weeks.

--IANS

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Jaipur, Dec 9 (IANS) A joint declaration was signed between the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Rajasthan's Water Resources Department to enhance international cooperation in the water sector on the inaugural day of the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit 2024.

Additionally, a ‘Letter of Intent’ was also signed between the Government of Rajasthan and the Danish Embassy to collaborate on the revival of the Saraswati Paleochannel.

Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, addressed the session, emphasising the importance of water conservation. He stated that due to climate change, rainfall patterns have drastically changed, with some regions suffering from severe water scarcity while others face excess. To address these issues, he highlighted the need for efficient water management practices.

Shekhawat said that saving every drop of water is crucial for securing the future of upcoming generations. He further advocated for wastewater treatment, water recycling, and the reduction of irrigation water usage. The minister also praised Israel's successful water management technologies such as drip irrigation and sprinkler systems.

Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat noted that, in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a developed nation by 2047, Rajasthan is hosting this three-day conference to attract significant investments and contribute to the nation’s growth.

He assured that the state government is committed to ensuring water security for future generations, with ongoing initiatives such as the Revised PKC-Integrated ERCP, the Yamuna Water MoU, and the Dewas project.

Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, Abhay Kumar, called for a collective effort to conserve and sustainably manage water resources, ensuring that every drop counts.

The session featured discussions among industry leaders, water resource experts, and other guests on the urgent need for sustainable water management in the face of climate change, rapid urbanisation, and increasing water demand.

--IANS

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