Day: May 9, 2023

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Funding for US, UAE farm climate project grows to $13 billion

Funding for a US and United Arab Emirates-led initiative to advance climate-friendly farming practices around the world has grown to more than $13 billion, a US official said on Monday, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya.

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) was launched in 2021 and seeks to unite nations to cut agriculture emissions, which account for about 10 percent to 12 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from sources like livestock manure, machinery and fertilizer application, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the latest funding figures at the AIM for Climate summit in Washington, DC, on Monday during an appearance alongside UAE Minister for Climate and the Environment Mariam Almheiri and former US vice president Al Gore.

About $10 billion of the $13 billion investment is from governments and the rest is from non-government parties funding initiatives to support smallholder farmers, emerging technologies and methane reduction, a US Department of Agriculture spokesperson said.

“Climate change continues to impact longstanding agricultural practices in every country and a strong global commitment is necessary to face the challenges of climate change head-on,” Vilsack said in a statement.

The UAE will host the COP28 climate change talks this fall. As of COP27 last November, $8 billion had been pledged for AIM for Climate.

The AIM for Climate summit lasts through Wednesday and will feature officials from Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands as well as academics and company executives.

Source: Trend News Agency

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Senator Durbin Urges Azerbaijan To Free Bakhtiyar Hajiyev

A key U.S. senator on Monday, once again, urged Azerbaijan to free leading activist Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports. Senator Dick Durbin, the second-highest-ranking Democrat in the Senate, said that he was "troubled" by the cases of civic and human rights voices Bakhtiyar Hajiyev and Elchin Sadigov - with Hajiyev recently 'near death in jail', as he put it. Durbin called on the Azerbaijani government to release political prisoners and "instead focus on joining the community of democracies." Hajiyev was arrested on Dec 9 for alleged 'hooliganism' and 'disrespect for court', claims that he strongly denies. Senator Durbin's comments came just hours after President Ilham Aliyev issued pardons for hundreds of people, including several who have been identified by rights groups as being behind bars for political reasons. Washington welcomed the move, adding that "unfortunately, many still remain in prison for exercising those same rights, and we call on Azerbaijan to release those individuals," as the U.S. Embassy to Baku put it. When asked by TURAN's correspondent if Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a chance last week to discuss the topic of human rights with his Azerbaijani counterpart in Washington, State Department's deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said the following: "I'm not going to get into the specifics of last week's talks beyond what we've shared publicly. But of course, we raise human rights regularly and consistently with our counterparts when we engage with them." * Bakhtiyar Hajiyev was arrested on December 9 last year on charges of hooliganism and contempt of court. On the same day, the Khatai District Court arrested him for 1 month and 20 days. On December 15, Hajiyev went on a hunger strike demanding his release. He ended his hunger strike on December 28 after persistent calls from members of the public and family members. But on January 9, after the Court of Appeal denied his release from custody, he resumed his hunger strike, which continues to this day. On January 21, the court extended Hajiyev's term of imprisonment for another month, and on February 23, the Khatai court extended the term of arrest for another 2 months - on April 28. The courts did not satisfy the numerous petitions of lawyers to change Hajiyev's extreme measure of restraint to house arrest or release on bail pending the start of the trial. On February 28, on the 51st day of the hunger strike, Hajiyev ended the hunger strike. Representatives of the State Department, the US Senate, the European Union, the Council of Europe and a number of international NGOs have repeatedly called for the release of Hajiyev from custody.

Source: Turan News Agency

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US renews sanctions against Syria for one year

US President Joe Biden made the decision to extend the regime of unilateral sanctions against Syria for one year more, according to the notice posted by the White House, Trend reports citing TASS.

This refers to keeping in force various restrictive measures introduced by Washington against Damascus from 2004 to 2012. Restrictions provide in particular blocking assets of certain individuals and legal entities and the ban on exports of specific categories of US goods and services to Syria.

"I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared with respect to the actions of the Government of Syria," the US President said.

"The United States will consider changes in policies and actions of the Government of Syria in determining whether to continue or terminate this national emergency in the future," as stated in the notice.

Source: Trend News Agency

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“Peace Is Within Reach”: U.S. ‘Welcomes’ Continuing Engagement Between Azerbaijan And Armenia

The United States 'welcomes' reports that Azerbaijan and Armenia are continuing to engage in peace discussions, the State Department said on Monday following the news about the upcoming Brussels meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports. "We reiterate our conviction that peace is within reach and that direct dialogue is key to resolving issues and reaching a lasting peace," Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told a daily press conference when responding to TURAN's questions. An announcement on the EU Council's website said a three-corner meeting with Council President Charles Michel would take place on May 14 at EU headquarters. The Brussels dialogue follows recent talks in Washington which prompted Secretary of State Antony Blinken last week to suggest a breakthrough was possible. When asked by TURAN's correspondent whether the Secretary stood by his positive assessment of the dialogue, Patel said the following: "Our view... is that last week's discussions were constructive, and we believe that the delegations from Armenia and Azerbaijan made significant progress in addressing difficult issues. Both countries, as you know, agreed in principle to certain terms and have a better understanding of each other's points of views." Patel went on to add, "We believe that with additional goodwill and flexibility and compromise, that an agreement is within reach, and we continue to provide full support and engagement from the United States as the two countries continue to engage in dialogue and continue to secure a durable and sustainable peace."

Source: Turan News Agency

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U.S. to Unveil New Ammunition Aid to Ukraine While Wagner Group Signals It Will Stay In Bakhmut

The Biden Administration is reportedly set to announce a $1.2 billion aid package to Ukraine as early as this week, according to senior U.S. officials, to boost the country's air defense capabilities. The move comes as Moscow intensifies its targeting of Kyiv while the Wagner group appears to have ditched plans to withdraw from Bakhmut, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports. "The United States will continue to take steps to support our Ukrainian partners... and we'll continue to take steps to hold the Russian Federation accountable," State Department's deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel told a daily briefing when responding to TURAN's questions. When asked about Russia's launching a wave of strikes on Kyiv early Monday, Patel said "this is just another line item in the litany of list of Russian aggression on Ukraine." He went on to add, "... The important thing to remember here is that this conflict has not gone to plan according to Putin. The Russian Federation has had to scrape around for additional personnel for this conflict. Now they are relying on the Wagner Group and its band of ex-convicts to do much of this work." Rather for Putin to withdraw from Ukraine and stop the needless loss of life, Russia "has chosen time and time again to escalate. And this - unfortunately we are seeing that wreak havoc across Ukraine, including on Kyiv," Patel added.

Source: Turan News Agency

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No fertilizer export within grain deal framework so far – UN

Fertilizers have not been exported as part of the grain deal until now, the Office of the UN Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative said, Trend reports citing TASS.

"There are currently 14 vessels in the Ukrainian ports loading approximately 600,000 metric tonnes of grain and foodstuffs. The Initiative also provides for the exports of fertilizer, including ammonia. There have been no such exports so far," the Office said.

Source: Trend News Agency

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Explosions heard in Gaza Strip as Israel launches airstrike

Explosions were heard in the Gaza Strip early Tuesday morning as Israel launched an airstrike, Palestinian security sources and witnesses told Xinhua, Trend reports.

"The army is now striking Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza. Details to follow," the Israeli Defense Forces said in a brief statement.

Source: Trend News Agency

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Messi wins Laureus individual prize again

Argentine and Paris Saint-Germain footballer Lionel Messi added two prestigious awards to his already illustrious list of achievements, winning the Laureus World Sportsman and the World Team of the Year at the grand ceremony on Monday, Trend reports citing Xinhua.

The 35-year-old veteran, who led Argentina to World Cup victory last year in Qatar, became the first-ever athlete to sweep both awards in the same year.

Chinese freeskier Gu Ailing, a two-time gold medal winner at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games last year, captured the Action Sportsperson of the Year award.

The World Cup-winning captain Messi, who shared the men's prize with Lewis Hamilton in 2020, defeated other nominees including 21-time tennis Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, current Formula One world champion Max Verstappen, world record holder in pole vault Mondo Duplantis, basketball player Stephen Curry, and French football international Kylian Mbappe to secure the award for a second time.

"It's an honour, especially since the Laureus World Sports Awards are taking place this year in Paris, the city that welcomed me and my family," Messi said. "I would like to thank all my teammates, not only those of the national team but also those of PSG. I have not accomplished anything alone and I am grateful to be able to share all this with them."

Messi scored seven goals, including two in the final, and won the Golden Ball in Qatar last December when he led the South American team to their third World Cup title. The Argentine men's football team was given a team award at Laureus.

"And I'm even happier to see that the team I was part of at the World Cup was also honoured by the Laureus Academy tonight," Messi added. "For us, the World Cup was an unforgettable adventure; I cannot describe what it felt like to return to Argentina and see what our victory had brought to our people."

Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who clinched a fifth world 100m title at Eugene last August, picked up the women's individual award, while tennis US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz was named the best breakthrough of the year.

Gu, the first athlete to win three medals in freestyle skiing at a single Olympic Games, was awarded the Action Sportsperson, a prize given to the best athlete in extreme sports of the year.

"It's a huge honor to me," said the 19-year-old, who worked on her homework for eight hours on her flight to Paris since she is also pursuing academics at Stanford University.

"I don't want to simply be celebrating this beautiful trophy here today, but also to be speaking to the value that sports have brought to my life and to help contribute that love and passion, confidence and resilience, everything that sports have taught me to more people," Gu told Xinhua.

Manchester United and Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen won Comeback of the Year following his return to football after collapsing on the pitch due to cardiac arrest during Euro 2020.

At the start of 2022, the tough fighter was without a club, and his future in the game was uncertain. But he managed to end the year playing every minute of Denmark's World Cup campaign and earning a regular place in the Man United squad.

The Laureus Award was founded in 2000 to celebrate sporting excellence during the past year. This year's ceremony was held in person after the previous two editions were conducted online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Trend News Agency

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Azercosmos, US SpaceX sign cooperation agreement

The Azerbaijan Space Agency (Azercosmos) and the US SpaceX Corporation have signed a cooperation agreement. The signing ceremony was held on the sidelines of the meeting held between Azerbaijan's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, Azercosmos and SpaceX. Azerkosmos also reached an agreement with SpaceX on resale of the company's Starlink broadband satellite internet service in Azerbaijan. Azercosmos Chairman of the Board Sameddin Asadov said that as a partner of Starlink internet services we will expand our advanced satellite technology services both at sea and on land. 'This collaboration is an important step towards sustainable development of space between Azerbaijan and SpaceX. The 74th International Astronautical Congress to be held in Baku is a milestone initiative at the global level and SpaceX will also join the event,' said SpaceX President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Gwynne Shotwell. The Starlink network is designed, owned and operated by SpaceX, the world's leading provider of launch services. Starlink is the world's first and largest satellite constellation using a low Earth orbit to deliver broadband internet capable of supporting streaming, online gaming, video calls and more. Leveraging advanced satellites and user hardware coupled with deep experience with both spacecraft and on-orbit operations, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to users all over the world.

Source: Azerbaijan State News Agency