World
African migratory birds threatened by hot, dry weather
MOMBASA, Kenya (AP) — Africa’s migratory birds are threatened by altering climate patterns within the heart and east of the continent which have depleted pure water techniques and brought about a devastating drought.
Hotter and drier circumstances because of local weather change make it tough for touring species who’re dropping their water sources and breeding grounds, with many now endangered or compelled to change their migration patterns solely by settling in cooler northern areas.
Roughly 10% of Africa’s greater than 2,000 chicken species, together with dozens of migratory birds, are threatened, with 28 species — such because the Madagascar fish eagle, the Taita falcon and hooded vultures — classed as “critically endangered.” Over one-third of them are particularly weak to local weather change and excessive climate, an evaluation by environmental group BirdLife Worldwide mentioned.
“Birds are being affected by local weather change similar to another species,” BirdLife coverage coordinator Ken Mwathe mentioned. “Migratory birds are affected greater than different teams of birds as a result of they need to carry on shifting,” which makes it extra probably {that a} website they depend on throughout their journey has degraded ultimately.
The African-Eurasian flyway, the flight hall for birds that journey south by way of the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert for the winter, harbors over 2,600 websites for migrating birds. An estimated 87% of African websites are in danger from local weather change, a larger proportion than in Europe or Asia, a research by the United Nations setting company and conservation group Wetlands Worldwide discovered.
Africa is extra weak to local weather change as a result of it’s much less in a position to adapt, mentioned Evans Mukolwe, a retired meteorologist and science director on the World Meteorological Group.
“Poverty, biodiversity degradation, excessive climate occasions, lack of capital and entry to new applied sciences” make it harder for the continent to guard habitats for wild species, Mukolwe mentioned.
Hotter temperatures because of human-caused local weather change and fewer rainfall shrink key wetland areas and water sources, which birds depend on throughout migratory journeys.
“Lake Chad is an instance,” Mwathe mentioned. “Earlier than birds cross the Sahara, they cease by Lake Chad, after which transfer to the Northern or Southern hemisphere. However Lake Chad has been shrinking over time,” which compromises its potential to help birds, he mentioned.
Parched birds means more durable journeys, which has an impression on their potential to breed, mentioned Paul Matiku, govt director of Nature Kenya.
Flamingoes, for instance, which usually breed in Lake Natron in Tanzania are unlikely to have the ability to “if the migration journey is just too tough,” Matiku mentioned.
He added that “not having water in these wetlands means breeding won’t happen” since flamingoes want water to create mud nests that preserve their eggs away from the extreme warmth of dry floor.
Non-migratory birds are additionally scuffling with the altering local weather. African fish eagles, discovered all through sub-Saharan Africa, are actually compelled to journey additional seeking meals. The variety of South African Cape Rockjumpers and Protea canaries is severely declining.
Chook species dwelling within the hottest and driest areas, like within the Kalahari Desert that spans Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, are approaching their “physiological limits,” the newest evaluation by the U.N.’s knowledgeable local weather panel mentioned. It added that birds are much less capable of finding meals and are dropping physique mass, inflicting large-scale deaths for these dwelling in excessive warmth.
“Forest habitats get hotter with local weather change and … dryland habitats get drier and savannah birds lack meals as a result of grass by no means seeds, flowers by no means fruit, and bugs by no means emerge as they do when it rains,” Matiku mentioned.
Different threats, such because the unlawful wildlife commerce, agriculture, the expansion of city areas and air pollution are additionally stunting chicken populations like African fish eagles and vultures, he mentioned.
Higher land administration tasks that assist restore degraded wetlands and forests and defend areas from infrastructure, poaching or logging will assist protect probably the most weak species, the U.N. environmental company mentioned.
Birds and different species would profit from concerted efforts to enhance water entry and meals safety, particularly as sea degree rise and excessive climate occasions are set to proceed, mentioned Amos Makarau, the Africa regional director of the U.N. climate company.
Scientists say that curbing emissions of planet-warming gasses, particularly in high-emitting nations, might additionally restrict future weather-related catastrophes.
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Observe AP’s local weather and setting protection at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment
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Related Press local weather and environmental protection receives help from a number of personal foundations. See extra about AP’s local weather initiative right here. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.
World
Israel says 10 killed in rocket attack on occupied Golan Heights
At least 10 people have been killed and 20 others wounded in a rocket attack on a football pitch in the town of the Majdal Shams in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Israeli authorities said.
Israel’s military spokesman Daniel Hagari said children were among those killed and accused the Lebanese group Hezbollah of carrying out the attack on Saturday, but the group denied any involvement.
“Our intelligence is clear. Hezbollah is responsible for the killing of innocent children,” Hagari said.
“We will prepare for a response against Hezbollah … we will act,” he said.
Hezbollah swiftly denied responsibility for the attack on Saturday. The group said in a statement it “categorically denies the allegations reported by certain enemy media and various media platforms concerning the targeting of Majdal Shams”.
“The Islamic Resistance has no connection to this incident,” it said, referring to its military wing.
The Iran-aligned group has been exchanging fire with Israeli forces in areas near the Israel-Lebanon border since October 8, when Israel launched its war on Gaza.
The cross-border attacks, which Hezbollah said it launched in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid Israel’s war on Gaza, have led to fears of a larger regional conflagration.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he would fly home early from his trip to the United States, where he met several senior US officials.
“Immediately upon learning of the disaster in Majdal Shams, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directed that his return to Israel be brought forward as quickly as possible,” Netanyahu’s office said in a post on X.
Lebanon’s government in a statement urged the “immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts” and condemned attacks on civilians.
Fears of escalation
Reporting from Qatar, Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut said Saturday’s attack was one of the deadliest single incidents since the cross-border fire began and comes amid growing fears of an escalation.
“Hezbollah is saying this isn’t from them, whereas the Israelis immediately said it was them,” she said, adding that neither side wants an all-out war, “but both sides have said they are prepared for it.”
Gideon Levy, a columnist for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz warned that “now things can really get out of control”.
“It’s a dramatic moment. We don’t know what will be next. There is a lot of uncertainty. The coming hours will be decisive,” he told Al Jazeera.
“I don’t see Israel ignoring this incident.”
Political analyst Ori Goldberg said he believed it was unlikely the attack would lead to an “all-out war” between Israel and Hezbollah.
“Both sides don’t want an all-out war, this has been made abundantly clear”, he told Al Jazeera, and noted that the attack took place on Israel’s periphery, rather than in its heartland. “I don’t think that this will be enough to take us to an all-out war,” he said.
The attack on the football pitch followed an Israeli attack in Lebanon that killed four fighters on Saturday.
Two security sources in Lebanon said the four fighters killed in the Israeli attack on Kfar Kila in southern Lebanon were members of different armed groups, with at least one of them belonging to Hezbollah.
The Israeli military said its aircraft had targeted a military structure belonging to Hezbollah after identifying fighters entering the building.
Hezbollah claimed it carried out at least four attacks, including with Katyusha rockets, in retaliation for the Kfar Kila attacks.
The Golan Heights, a 1,200sq-kilometre (463sq-mile) plateau, is Syrian territory that Israel occupied in 1967 after the Six-Day War, before annexing it in 1981, a move the United Nations Security Council unanimously condemned.
Many residents in the territory are Syrian Druze, some of whom have Israeli citizenship.
World
Continued rain postpones skateboarding, delays tennis at Paris Olympics
PARIS (AP) — Rain that fell throughout the opening ceremony continued on Saturday, leading to postponements and delays at the Paris Olympics.
The first event of the skateboarding competition, men’s street skateboarding, was postponed from Saturday until Monday because of the showers. The women’s event is scheduled for Sunday.
Skateboarding is held at the outdoor venue of La Concorde Urban Park in Paris. World Skate, the sport’s governing body, cited adverse weather conditions for the move.
Rain has been one of the big stories early in the Games after constant showers and occasional downpours served as the backdrop for the opening ceremony. As of 10 a.m. CEST (4 a.m. ET), much of the rain had cleared from the area.
The start of play in the scheduled tennis matches on the 10 smaller courts at Roland Garros was delayed because of rain, but action was able to get going in the two main stadiums, which both have retractable roofs. That included the match at Court Philippe Chatrier between No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland – who has won four of the past five French Open titles at the same site being used for the Olympics – and Irina-Camelia Begu of Romania.
Sunny skies are expected to return to the area Sunday, but the rain could have a lasting impact on the Paris Games.
The rain could threaten the water quality for swimming in the Seine when the triathlon begins Tuesday. Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 organizers, addressed the situation at the daily press briefing.
“We are still looking at the forecast for the coming days,” Estanguet said. “They expect that it will rain till 5 p.m. today and then it should be fine.
“The team is very confident that it will be possible to have the (triathlon) swimming part in the Seine.”
The triathlon begins with the men’s event Tuesday, swimming from 8 a.m. CEST (2 a.m. ET) at the Alexander III bridge next to Grand Palais.
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AP Sports Writers Graham Dunbar and Steve Whyno and AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this story.
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AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
World
Australian surfer saved by off-duty police officer after shark ripped off leg, doctors hope to reattach it
Kai McKenzie, 23, was surfing off New South Wales in Australia when he was attacked by a shark, New South Wales police said.
“Clinging to life, he was able to catch a wave back to the beach,” a fundraising site set up for McKenzie said. “A retired police officer used his dog’s lead as a tourniquet to stem the bleeding before the victim could be airlifted to hospital.”
Amazingly, McKenzie’s leg washed up on the beach after the attack and doctors are hoping to be able to reattach it.
McKenzie has undergone surgery and remains in critical but stable condition, according to ABC News Australia and the fundraising site.
MASSIVE BULL SHARK WEIGHING NEARLY 500 POUNDS CAUGHT AT ALABAMA FISHING TOURNAMENT
Luke Short, who makes McKenzie’s surfboards, told ABC they had all hoped “we heard it wrong.”
“It’s amazing that he’s survived,” he added.
His surf team RAGE called McKenzie the “toughest person we know.”
“Sending love to @kai_mckenzie the youngest RAGE boy on the team and the toughest person that we know,” the team wrote on Instagram this week. “Yesterday he was attacked by a shark and has lost his leg while surfing in Port Macquarie. He has been through a lot breaking his back last year, he never once complained always just got on with doing what he loved as soon as possible. He is an inspiring person. The whole rage gang loves you man and we will see you soon.”
SHARK BITE REPORTED AT HILTON HEAD ISLAND RESORT IS FIRST REPORTED SHARK BI OF YEAR ON ISLAND
Kirran Mowbray of NSW Ambulance called McKenzie “courageous” during a 7News Sydney on-air broadcast. “He turned around, caught a wave into shore.”
She added that the off-duty officer “used the lead off a dog as a tourniquet to wrap around the young man’s leg and essentially saved his life.”
Kevin Young, vice president of Bite Club, a shark attack survivors club, told the broadcast: “And I know he lost a leg and they packed it with ice and they’re going down to try to reattach it. That just blows my brain that that might be possible.”
Mid North Coast Police Chief Insp. Stuart Campbell said they would be working to try to find out what type of shark bit McKenzie.
Port Macquarie Hastings Lifeguards later reported the beach had reopened after the attack.
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